Experience authentic Georgian elegance is this unique large OVAL studio apartment, overlooking park. Accommodates two in cosy sleeping loft. Light a fire, cook dinner in the designer kitchen, and then head out to enjoy the attractions of the city.

Come stay in one of Dublin's unique Georgian apartments, a perfect oval room, situated on Mountjoy Square, in the heart of Dublin's North Georgian core, and just minutes from O'Connell Street.
This large studio apartment is on the ground floor of a beautiful redbrick townhouse, built in 1792. Both house and apartment retain all their original features, combined with modern comforts.
The apartment has a fantastic 10ft window and overlooks a quiet side street, with an oblique view of the park. It has a working black Kilkenny marble fireplace with a spectacular gilt over-mantle mirror. The log basket is fully stocked with fuel- we charge cost price on an 'honour system'. The fully equipped kitchen has a granite worktop, a gas hob, electric oven, dishwasher and microwave.
The rest of the apartment is comfortably furnished with period furniture including a Georgian oval 'hunt' dining table and four matching chairs, a comfortable 6 ft., sofa, TV & DVD player along with an iPod/iPhone dock for music. A small library of Irish books, and DVD's is available.
The bedroom is upstairs and overlooks the apartment. It has a comfortable contract-quality double bed, Siberian white goose down duvet and pillows and pure Pima/Egyptian cotton sheets. Read in comfort with vintage Anglepoise reading lights. PLEASE NOTE there is restricted headroom in the sleeping loft, and consequently, the bed is low. ALSO, while the apartment faces a relatively quiet side street, it is on the corner of a fairly busy main road, so there will be traffic noise....
A 90cm contract-quality single bed, and extra linens are available for a third guest. A charge of €10, to cover the cost of the extra laundry, will be collected upon arrival, if the room is occupied as a twin.
The bathroom has a high-pressure shower and loads of storage space.
•You will receive a welcome pack of the basics- quality tea, coffee, home-made granola and preserves, yoghurt, fresh fruit, free-range eggs and fresh brown soda bread.
•100% cotton bed linen and towels are provided
•Local tourist information and guide books available
•Free wi-fi
•Hair dryer
•Fuel, at cost price, is available for the fire, if required.
•Washing machine and dryer are available in the building- €7.50
•Secure off-street parking is available for €5 per night
CHECK-IN IS FROM 2pm, but we are happy to take in your bags AFTER 9am, and can give you keys to come aback at your leisure, after 2pm. CHECK-OUT IS BY 11AM, please.
The house is perfectly located for exploring the city; all of the city's cultural institutions are within walking distance and the transport connections are excellent.
Airport bus (41) passes door, 8 min. walk to LUAS Red line, DART, (Connolly and Tara) and city busses. Dublin Bikes stand opposite house.
KARIN'S GUIDE TO THE CITY
LOCAL GROCERY SHOPPING, SERVICES AND BREAKFAST OPTIONS
In general, shopping hours are 9.30-6pm, with late-night shopping till 8pm on Thursdays. Sunday opening is from noon.
BREAKFAST
The Old Music Store on North Frederick Street, a few blocks NW of us, does a good Irish breakfast in comfortable surroundings. The Kingfisher Café, a no-frills 'caff' on the corner of Parnell Square and Parnell Street West is good for breakfast, with friendly and efficient service. Good value, and good fish and chips later in the day.
LOCAL GROCERY SHOPPING
Tops in Pops, just down the street to the right, for fresh local produce and basic groceries, 8.30am to 6pm Monday to Saturday. They are a fourth-generation local business, who have been trading on the site since 1931. The Londis corner store next door opens 8am to 10pm, but charge for privilege. There is an ATM machine at the back, right hand side of the store.
Dunne's Stores, is the indigenous supermarket and department store chain, and has branches in every sizeable town throughout the country. There are two local branches. In North Earl Street, opposite O’Connell Street’s Spire, the Off-Licence (liquor store) is in a separate premises, a few doors apart - look for the James Joyce statue. You will find a bigger branch in the ILAC Shopping Centre, flanked by Henry Street, Moore Street and Parnell Street West (Moore Street entrance is opposite Paris Bakery).
There is Metro Tesco on Parnell Street West, just past the Rotunda Hospital. A main branch is to be found in the basement of the Jervis Centre, off Henry Street.
Carney’s Butchers, is another multi-generational local family business, which prides itself on the quality of its meat. In keeping with local tradition, they sell fresh fish on Friday’s.
F.X. Buckley’s Butchers have two local branches; Moore Street and Talbot Street. This is a very old Dublin business and they have everything; free-range pork, beef and lamb from their own herds, poultry, game in season and fish, and, in the Moore Street branch, a deli counter for cooked meats next door. They are very obliging, and the lads have a great line in smart (sassy) chat.
PHARMACIES
Foley's Pharmacy on Parnell Street East is a 100+ year-old family business; they are very helpful. Opening hours: Monday-Saturday 9am 6pm.
There is a late-night pharmacy, Hickey’s at 55 Lower O’Connell Street, (west side, within the block closest to the river). Opening hours: 8am -10pm M-F, 8.30am-10pm Saturday. 10am 10pm Sunday. Web: (EMAIL HIDDEN)
POST OFFICES
Nearest Post Office is Parnell Street East, at corner of Marlborough Street, but much nicer is the GPO, O’Connell Street. 1828 façade, but badly damaged in the 1916 Rising, and largely rebuilt in 1928. The main hall is beautiful, with its entire original, 1928, fittings intact. It also contains the iconic statue, by Oliver Shepherd, The Dying Cuchullin. You will find a booklet with postal rates in the black folder.
BANKS
Allied Irish Bank has a branch on O’Connell Street, at the SW junction with Parnell Street, opposite the Rotunda Hospital. ATM in the wall.
Bank of Ireland has a branch at Lower O’Connell Street, on the east side of the street, between Middle Abbey Street and Ashton Quay. ATM inside, opens
MEDICAL AND DENTAL PRACTICES
Mountjoy Medical Practice, Dr. Gerry Roebuck, Dr. Holly Porter (female) Dr. Colm Killeen. 2-3 Baker’s Yard, Portland Street North. Tel (PHONE NUMBER HIDDEN).
Opening hours 9-1.30 and 3.30-5.30. You can just drop in. €50 per visit.
Frederick Dental Clinic, Dr. Peter Dwyer, North Frederick Street.
-My dentist- is happy to see people on an emergency basis. Call for appointment.
Tel:(PHONE NUMBER HIDDEN).
NORTHSIDE
LOCAL RESTAURANTS:
My favourite local is W. J. Kavanagh's on Dorset Street, just two blocks north of us, on the main road to the airport. It's an old Dublin pub, which has undergone a gentle transformation - a huge selection of craft beers, and a small, artisan-based seasonal menu. very laid back and no tourists.
'The Cobalt Cafe', in a beautiful Georgian house on North Great Georges Street, which doubles as a gallery, is great for lunch. Parnell Street, Dublin's emerging 'Chinatown' is just a half a block to the south. Newly opened, on Parnell Square West is 'The Hot Stove', serving modern Irish food in a smart and comfortable setting.
Across O'Connell Street, on Moore Street, you will find the Paris Bakery, and (new) Deli. They serve all day, until 10 pm; superb pastries and great coffee from 8am, as well as excellent bistro-style meals, and fantastic bread.
Nearer the river, 'Le Bon Crubeen' (crubeen=pig's trotter- it's a modern Franco-Irish restaurant) is on Talbot Street, as is the venerable and immensely popular 'Talbot 101'. It is packed to the gunnels with locals between 5.54 and 7.15, enjoying their pre-theatre supper before the Abbey curtains rise at 7.30, when they relinquish their seats for the rest of us!
On the riverfront, I love Panem, facing the Millennium Bridge, for a quick coffee and a delicious Sicilian almond biscuit, baked on the premises. A few doors down, you'll find a cluster of Italian bars, cafes and restaurants serving good quality food. Half a block to the east is the trendy 'Winding Stairs' restaurant, with its book-lined walls (relics of a former second-hand bookshop-cum-cafe of the same name), while The Woollen Mills, opposite the Halfpenny Bridge, has a sophisticated casual menu, based on 'plates' for sharing.Back on Capel Street, locals rave about Brother Hubbard for lunch.
LOCAL PUBS include the 'Hill 16' just opposite the house, on Gardiner Street - very popular with the GAA crowd on match days (the Gaelic Athletic Association Stadium, Croke Park, is just 3 blocks to the east), they pull a superb 'pint'. ‘The Heritage Parnell’, on Parnell Street West, just around the corner from O’Connell Street 'The Flowing Tide', on the corner of Marlborough Street, opposite the Abbey Theatre, is one of my favorites - after the curtain goes down in the Abbey, half the cast are likely to be at the bar. A few doors closer to O’Connell Street is Mulligan’s, another very nice pub, dating from the Edwardian era. 'The Church' on Mary Street, in a converted 1720's church, is another fine place for a drink; the former owner won many accolades for the high quality of the restoration. Capel Street has many typical local pubs, which have the added benefit of serving a largely local population. They include Mc’Neill’s' which is good for traditional music, and Slattery's . 'The Black Sheep' has the local craft beers covered, and does good bar food, (as does its sister pub, ‘The Brew Dock’, on Store Street, at the bottom of Gardiner Street. The north side traditional music 'musician’s' bar is 'The Cobblestone', at the top of Smithfield, and is suitably grungy.
DEPARTMENT STORES AND FASHION
Henry Street, off O’Connell Street, at the SPIRE, is the premier shopping street on the north side of the river. Here you will find Arnott’s the local department store, which highlights Irish fashion and design, throughout the store, and has several nice cafes. Henry Street also contains large branches of Debenhams and Marks&Spencers, as well as branches of most of the high street fashion chains. There are two large shopping centres, the Jervis, with a large branch of Tesco’s in the Basement, and the ILAC, which has a Dunnes Department Store, with a Food Hall in the basement. (You can shop for fresh produce on adjacent Moore Street, Dublin's oldest street market, now also home to a thriving cluster of ethnic food markets and restaurants.) Clery’s Department Store is on O’Connell Street- have a look at the elegant 1940’s neo-classical façade, a mini version of Selfridges’s in London.
NORTHSIDE CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS
The North side of Parnell Square is home to the city's Hugh Lane Gallery of Modern Art; we share a significant collection of Impressionist painting with the Tate Gallery in London, part of the Hugh Lane Bequest, which is rotated in seven-year cycles. Next door is the Writer's Centre, and next door again, is the Writer's Museum, with a Michelin-starred restaurant in the basement, the amazing Chapter One. Down on the East side of Parnell Square is the beautiful jewel-box that is the Gate Theatre - part of the 18th-century entertainment complex established by the entrepreneurial Dr. Bartholomew, to help support his new Rotunda Maternity Hospital (the oldest purpose-built such hospital in the world, and still delivering babies on a daily basis, 270 years later (9000 is 2012).
You could be seated in either the Abbey or Gate Theatres within 10 minutes of leaving the house, and the James Joyce Cultural Centre is even closer, on North Great Georges Street (don't forget to check out the Cobalt Cafe, opposite).
Hop on the Luas Red Line, going west, in Abbey Street, halfway between Mountjoy Square and the river, and you will be dropped at the ‘Museum’. The National Museum, Collins Barracks, housed in an old military barracks, dating from 1702, contains the Decorative Arts Collections, (basically, everything post 1700). Descend at the next stop, ‘Heuston’ for IMMA, Ireland's National Museum of Modern Art, housed in the old Kilmainham Hospital, built in the1660’s. It pre-dates the more famous Chelsea Hospital in London by several years.
Not to be missed is the Old Jameson Distillery, in Smithfield. Jameson was distilled here until 1971, when three historic distilleries amalgamated, and centralized distilling in Midleton, Co. Cork. The Museum is very well presented; one is guided around the distilling floor, among the huge old pot stills before retiring to the Bar to sample the goods.
Nearby is one of the oldest churches in Dublin, St.Michan’s, on Church Street, dating from the mid-11thc. There are several mummified bodies in the basement, thought to be Crusaders. When I was a child, one was allowed to shake their hands…..
SOUTHSIDE
In the south city centre, the RESTAURANT HUB is in the pedestrian streets to either side of Grafton Street, and in Temple Bar. Particular favourites of mine include:
* Nede, Temple Bar Square
* Eden Bar and Grill, South William Street
* The Green Hen, Wicklow Street
* Fallon and Byrne, Exchequer Street, basement wine-bar, full service restaurant first- floor, and coffee bar within the food-hall on the ground floor.
* Fade Street Social, Fade Street, tapas bar and full-service restaurant.
* The Rustic Stone, Exchequer Street, upmarket, sophisticated and healthy ‘fast food’.
* Cornucopia, Wicklow Street- vegetarian café day, full service by evening.
* The Port House, South William Street, wine bar and tapas.
* Pinxto, Crowe Street, Temple Bar, as above, same management.
Southside city-centre TRADITIONAL PUBS we like are:
* Mulligan's, Poolbeg Street
* Neary's, Chatham Street
* Grogan’s, South William Street
* International Bar, Wicklow Street
* O'Neill's, Suffolk Street
* The Dawson Lounge, Dawson Street
* The Stag's Head, Connaught Court
* The Long Hall, South Great Georges Street
* Doheny and Nesbitt’s, Merrion Row
* Kehoe’s, South Anne Street
* The Duke, Duke Street
Fronting the river, TEMPLE BAR, with its vibrant mix of independent shops, cafes, restaurants, pubs, markets and cultural institutions occupies an area three blocks deep and ten blocks long. At the western end, look out for the two branches of the Queen of Tarts- a wonderful teas shop that offers really good home baking and teas and coffees, all served on mismatched antique china (Lord Edward Street and Cow's Lane).
TEMPLE BAR FARMERS MARKET, is held every Saturday in Meeting House Square, 9-4.30, now has a smart new tensile roof for wet days, and is a good place to rub shoulders with the locals, whilst sampling local food culture. Don’t miss the Oyster Stall, Hick’s Pork Butchers, or David Llewyllan’s fantastic ‘Double L’ local cider- 100% apple (not even water), and the two local cheese stalls, among others. Don’t’ forget to check out the overflow stalls on Curved Street, where Rossa Crowe’s fantastic bread is on offer- Rossa took himself off to France for two years to train, and now produces slow fermented breads, made with the very best organic flours.
TRINITY COLLEGE is a good orientation point; from here it is easy to find the mediaeval core, the cultural/political hub of the country around Kildare Street, and the Grafton Street fashion hub.
The campus occupies a 40-acre (16ha.) site, and is over 400 years old, though what one sees today are mainly beautiful eighteenth-century buildings. It is worth a wander around, after a visit to spectacular Long Library, to see the Book of Kells and other illustrated Celtic manuscripts.
From Front Gate, look south to Grafton Street or west up College Green and Dame Street, which lead to the mediaeval core. At the brow of the hill you will find:
* Dublin Castle (visit the State Apartments, the Chester Beatty Library and the lovely garden in front (which is actually the helicopter-landing pad for the Castle).
* The City Hall with its 'Museum of the Capital' in the basement is worth a look- the Hall is free, and there is a nominal charge for the Museum.
* Christchurch Cathedral
* Dublinia-in the Christchurch Chapterhouse (Viking Exhibition).
* Old Saint Audeon's Church, built almost into the city wall.
* St Patrick's Cathedral, and historic park beside.
* Marshe's Library-the oldest public library in these islands, 1701.
* Francis Street- the Antiques Quarter.
* Thomas Street/Meath Street, for a touch of 'Old Dublin'.
* The Guinness Storehouse.
* Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, (IMMA) Ireland's National Gallery of Modern Art, with its wonderful, recently restored formal garden.
KILMINHAM GAOL is worth a visit, and tells the story of Irish Nationalism. It can be reached via the grounds of IMMA, passing Bully’s Acre, and old graveyard, where Brian Boru was reputedly rested on his way to his final burial place in Armagh.
Alternatively, exit onto Nassau Street, with its cluster of high-quality shops showcasing the best of Irish crafts - fashion, knitwear, weaving, glassware, ceramics and contemporary jewellery - the Kilkenny Shop has a great cafe upstairs, with views over College Park.
Continue along the College Park railings till you reach Kildare Street, the cultural-institutional hub of the country. All of our national cultural institutions have free admission. Here you will find the National Library, and the National Museum, facing each other over the forecourt of Leinster House, home to the Oireachtas, our National Parliament. The National Library has a lovely exhibit on the poet, W.B. Yeats, and the Treasury, in the National Museum houses both the Bronze Age and Early Christian collections.
On the opposite side of the block, on Merrion Street/Merrion Square, you will find the National Gallery, and the Natural History Museum (known to Dubliner's of my father's generation, as 'The Dead Zoo’. This is a very refreshing look to the past, with absolutely no interpretation, and nothing, not even a postcard, to buy).
The National Gallery is halfway through a four-year renovation programme; in the meantime, the Millennium Wing, on Clare Street, has a ‘highlights of’ exhibition, and the Café and Gift Shop are also accessed via the Clare Street Entrance.
GETTING AROUND
Two operators offer Hop-On/Hop-Off tours:
(URL HIDDEN)
(URL HIDDEN)
They both offer a 2-day ticket, and cost roughly the same price - check them out online before you make up your mind.
One can buy an integrated LEAP card in most newsagents, at train stations, and in the Dublin Bus Head Office at 42 O’Connell Street (on the west side of the street, just north of the Spire). This can be used on the LUAS, DART, some suburban mainline trains, and on Dublin Bus routes.
There is also a 3-day tourist pass, the Freedom Ticket, which provides good value. €28 will give you 72 hours transport, starting at the Airport; Airlink from the airport, the Hop-On-Hop –Off tourist bus and all local bus routes. Web: (URL HIDDEN)
•The DART, the local electric commuter train, runs north/south along the coast. The northside city centre station is Connolly, on Amiens Street, facing Talbot Street, but I usually suggest people use Tara Street, as Connolly is also a mainline station, and is very big, and a bit confusing. Tara is purely a commuter station, and is about the same distance. It is on George’s Quay, just south of the Custom House. The other south-side city centre station is Pearse, on Westland Row, at the south end of the Trinity campus.
•The LUAS Red Line runs east-west through the north side of the city, as far east as the docks, and serves both Connolly and Heuston mainline stations. The nearest stop to Mountjoy Square is Abbey, on Middle Abbey Street, opposite the Abbey Theatre. The LUAS Green Line serves the south suburbs; Ranelagh, Dundrum, Leopardstown Racecourse, and on out to Cherrywood, on the county boundary with Wicklow.
•Main cross-city bus routes run north-south through O’Connell Street. The No.7 terminates on Mountjoy Square North, and there is a ‘shopper’s fare’ of 50c, to Grafton Street- alight at Trinity. On the return journey it skirts the Trinity campus and comes along Pearse, to the east of the campus - catch it on Clare Street, at the Millennium wing of the National Gallery.
•DUBLIN BIKES are free to use for the first half hour, and have a stand on Mountjoy Square West, but one needs to go to the Princes Street stand (to the right hand side of the General Post Office (GPO)), to purchase a short term card. It costs €2, and is only available to credit card holders.
SHOPPING WITH A DIFFERENCE
Those interested in the local fashion, art and design scene should look out for the following addresses (in no particular order):
•Designist, South Great George's Street (stock chosen for good design)
•Irish Design Store, Drury Street
•Article, Powerscourt Townhouse Centre (housewares)
•Irish Designer Store, Top floor Powerscourt Townhouse Centre
•Cow's Lane Gallery, Temple Bar (artist’s collective)
•The Jam Factory, Nicholas Street (artist’s collective)
•Avoca, Suffolk Street
•Kilkenny Shop, Nassau Street
•Designyard, South Frederick Street (jewellery)
•Louise Kennedy, couturier, Merrion Square, and Tipperary Crystal
•Gallery Zozimus, Francis Street (art gallery and carefully chosen crafts)
•Graphic Studio Gallery, Temple Bar (artist-printmaker’s gallery)
•Malthouse Design Centre and Shop, Distillery Court, 537 North Circular Road, just around the corner from Mountjoy Square (cluster of design-led businesses, 10-5 M-F)
•Magee's of Donegal, Wicklow Street, and,
•Kevin and Howlin, Nassau Street have hand-woven tweeds covered.
•Dubarry's, College Green produce wonderful, country-style outerwear, including the most perfect alternative to sweaty, waterproof Wellington boots…
•Monaghan's, Hibernian Way, the House of Ireland on Nassau Street and the Sweater Shops on Wicklow Street and Nassau Street has the best selections of traditional knitwear. Monaghan's specialise in cashmere.
•Murphy and Sheehy, Castle Market, stock Irish tweed, Irish linen and a quirky selection of designer fabrics. Look out for their ‘Linen Union (linen/cotton blend) Glass Cloths- the best ever for polishing glassware, they make a super, useful, inexpensive and lightweight traditional gift!
•The Cloth Shop, St. William Street, for interesting designer fabric, including a good selection of Irish Linen, and Liberty of London
INDEPENDENT BOOKSHOPS and MUSIC STORES
Eason’s, O’Connell Street, is a Dublin institution for over 100 years. It encompasses a large stationery department, a branch of Tower Records on the top floor, academic books in the basement, a nice café and two floors of general books. It is a good place to browse books of Irish interest, and they have a really good Information Desk.
Chapters, Parnell Street West is my ‘local’. John Gannon is one of the best booksellers in the business, and his staff are hand-picked enthusiastic bibliophiles, one and all. Stock is a mixture of the latest releases, and carefully chosen remaindered books. Their ordering service is superlative, and they ALWAYS know exactly what one is talking about, even with just the vaguest, half-remembered clues from a newspaper review. Very strong on contemporary fiction, natural history, non-fiction and books of Irish interest. Extensive second-hand section upstairs.
The Secret Bookstore, Wicklow Street is another favourite. It’s tucked away down a passage, near the L’Occitane shop and often throws up gems among its large second-hand stock. An eclectic music store occupies the rear of the shop.
Cathach Rare Books, Duke Street, specializes in Irish first editions, and have an interesting selection of Irish maps and prints.
Stokes Books is another interesting antiquarian/secondhand shop, specializing in books of Irish interest. You’ll find it in Georges Street Arcade.
Claddagh Records, Cecelia Street, Temple Bar, is primarily a music publisher, but they have a retail outlet in Temple Bar, which is the oldest independent music shop in Dublin, and specializes in traditional Irish music, with some interesting World Music additions.
The Celtic Note, on Nassau Street, beside the Kilkenny Shop is another good bet.
PLACES OF WORSHIP:
Roman Catholic:
Many Catholic churches have Mass on Saturday evening, in addition to morning Masses.
•St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church, Upper Gardiner Street. Gospel Mass, 7.30pm Sundays, September to mid June.
•St. Mary's Metropolitan Church - the Pro-Cathedral, Marlborough. Sung Mass, 11am, Sundays, with the Palestrina Choir.
•St. Joseph’s Church, Berkeley Road, Dublin 7.
•St. Teresa’s Church, Clarendon Street Church, choir sings at 11 o’clock Mass, Sunday’s
•St. Peter’s Church, Phibsborough, Dublin 7, has wonderful Harry Clarke ((PHONE NUMBER HIDDEN)) stained glass windows.
•Whitefriars Street Church, Aungier Street, church has relics of St. Valentine.
Church of Ireland:
•Christchurch Cathedral, Christchurch Place, sung Services Sundays,
•St. Patrick's Cathedral, Nicholas Street, sung Services Sundays.
•St. Anne’s Church, Dawson Street, Dublin 2
Jewish:
Dublin Hebrew Congregation
(URL HIDDEN)
Daily services in Synagogue at 32a Rathfarnham Road,
Public Transport:
Buses: (PHONE NUMBER HIDDEN).
Get off at Terenure Cross (road). Walk up Rathfarnham Road, pass AIB Bank and one row of terraced houses; shul is next building, with wooden/metal security gates. Across the street is a shop called Window Fashions.
Dublin Jewish Progressive Congregation (DJPC)
Website: (URL HIDDEN)
Email: (EMAIL HIDDEN)
Postal: PO Box 3059, Dublin 6
President: Mrs. Hilary Abrahamson
Muslim:
Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland (ICCI)
19 Roebuck Road, Clonskeagh, Dublin 14,
Tel: (PHONE NUMBER HIDDEN)
Islamic Foundation of Ireland (IFI)
163 South Circular Road, Dublin 8.
Tel: +(PHONE NUMBER HIDDEN)
Anwar-up-Madina
Moore Street, Dublin 1.
SHORT TRIPS OUTSIDE THE CITY BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT
NORTH:
Catch the No.46A bus, (heading north on O'Connell Street to the Phoenix Park- the largest enclosed urban park in the world, 1750 acres behind a seven-mile-long stone wall. Ashtown Castle Interpretive Centre, with its wonderful walled garden and café is a good place to orient oneself. From here, on Saturdays, it is possible to visit Aras an Uachtarian, the official residence of our President. One can also visit Farmliegh, the Official State Guesthouse, a former Guinness mansion. Among it’s attractions are an art gallery, café, occasional free concerts, and regular weekend Farmer’s Markets. The Park also houses the Dublin Zoo, (1827, the second-oldest Zoo in the world, after London’s Regent Park Zoo). Several herd of Fallow Deer roam at liberty.
Many sports are catered for; there is Polo ground, a cricket club, and lots soccer pitches. The Duke of Wellington is commemorated by a marvelous granite obelisk, which can be seen for miles. The area know as the Forty Acres affords superb views over the city, with the Royal Hospital and Guinness in the foreground, along the south side of the River Liffey. Phoenix Park can also be reached via the LUAS Red Line, direction Tallagh, heading west. Alight at 'Museum' and take a detour into the National Museum-Collins Barracks, which houses the Decorative Arts, post-1700, wonderful collections of silver, furniture, glass and other artifacts.
Just up the road, in Glasnevin there are three worthwhile attractions: Glasnevin Cemetary, was founded by Daniel O’Connell as one of his first initiatives, post Catholic Emancipation in 1829, to provide a dignified place for Catholic burial. The Glasnevin Musuem is new, and has superlative displays of Nationalist history. They also have a very good Geneology Department.
The National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, date from the end of 18thC. Though relatively small, they contain an internationally-aclaimed collection of plants and three iconic Glasshouses, by Turner of Dublin, which have all been restored in the recent past. There is a nice café in the Gardens, and entry is free. The Gravedigger’s Pub, over-looking a Green, is not to be missed. It got its name from the fact that there used to be a hatch in the rear wall, through which the gravediggers were served. They do nice simple pub food, and one can sit outside on sunny days. Walk back into town, and stop at either the The Botanic Bar at Harte’s Corner or the Brian Borus, typicl local bars. The Porter House, at Cross Guns Bridge, which is a micro-brewery, with nice food, is on the corner of the Royal Canal. Take a stroll east down the canal bank, and you will see swans, and moor-hens going about their business. At the next bridge, at Dorset Street look out for the lifesize bronze statue of Brendan Behan, a local author. From here is just a few minute’s stroll up Belvidere Place, with its charming stepped terraces of tall Georgian houses, to Mountjoy Square.
Another favorite is the Marino Casino, in Fairview/Clontarf, an early 18th century pleasure house, built to the design of Sir William Chambers, for Lord Charlemont, purely for entertaining, also just a few miles by bus, north of the city centre.
Catch the DART, the coastal commuter train, heading north, at Tara Street Station, on the South Liffey quays, at Butt Bridge, and take a short ride. You have the choice of Howth (a working fishing village) or Malahide.
Howth Demesne or Howth Head, behind the village will both afford walks with great views; the Harbour has a dozen restaurants along the quay- ranging from take-out fish and chips to the very upmarket. Book an early-evening window table at Aqua, and be astonished by the sunset over the coast, looking north-west. Another favourite of mine is Deep, midway along the quay (and do watch out for the local tame and greedy Harbour Seal, who begs shamelessly from the trawler men, who tie up alongside).
Malahide is a charming village, with some of the most expensive urban residential properties in the country. Good food and good shopping are to be had here. On the edge of the village you will find Malahide Castle and Demesne, open to the public, which includes a renowned private Arboretum, as Milo de Malahide, the last of his family, (who had occupied the castle continuously since Norman times, in the 10th-12th centuries) was a significant plants-man. The Castle contains the National Portrait Collection, as was as magnificent furniture and other contents. There is a smart new branch of the AVOCA Shop and Café in the Courtyard.
SOUTH:
South of the city you will find Rathfarnham Castle, and its Berkeley Costume and Toy Collection. Marley Park is a little further, just at the foot of the Dublin Mountains. It has wonderful parkland with easy walks, and a magnificent walled garden with a nice cafe. The No.16 bus, from O’Connell Street will leave you close by.
Powerscourt is at the edge of Enniskerry, its associated estate village, at the end of the No.44 bus route, which winds its way through the south side suburbs, into Wicklow, through the Scalp, a deep and picturesque glacial valley. The 19th century gardens are fabulous, and make great use of the 'borrowed landscape' beyond. The terrace and Nepture fountain are centred on the Sugarloaf mountain, which marks the beginning of the Wicklow Mountains. The Powerscourt Waterfall, part of the same estate, is a few miles further on, and there are beautiful, way-marked, woodland and moorland walks in the hills nearby. Do be mindful; these ‘mountains’ can be deceptive- while not high, they can be treacherous, as weather conditions can change in minutes. Stick to the way-marked paths, and do keep an eye on the weather.
Take the DART south to Bray and Greystones - via Dun Loughaire, Dalkey and Killiney - all interesting villages, with many cafes and restaurants.
Killiney Hill, with its eighteenth century obelisk at the summit, is a short climb that results in amazing views over Dublin Bay, and down into the Wicklow Mountains beyond. There is a nice pub in in the ‘village’- ‘The Druid’s Chair’.
Dalkey is a charming village with old-fashioned shops and lots of nice pubs, cafes and restaurants. The local Dalkey Castle Heritage Centre, is worth checking out, and in the summer run a theatre programme, and walking tours.
Bray Esplanade is a classic Victorian seaside amenity, sturdily built from local granite - the perfect place to enjoy an ice-cream. Campo di Fiori, either the Restaurant or the Café, both near the train station and the north end of the Promenade, are particular favourites of mine.
If one is feeling energetic, one could contemplate the Cliff Walk from Bray to Greystones - 4miles/6km along the rough cliff path. Lots of nice pubs for a pint of Guinness at the other end, The Hungry Pear is my favourite café, among many. The DART will take you straight back into the city. But.. make sure to do it in the morning, as by mid-day the path is in shade, and it can be windy and cold.
WEST:
Travelling into the rich plains of Kildare, by the No. 67 bus route, you will come to the historic village of Celbridge, just twelve miles from the city centre. Castletown House is Ireland's finest Palladian mansion, and was saved from destruction by Desmond Guinness, in the early 1960's. He purchased it from the construction company who had acquired it. They intended to demolish it, to make way for a vast suburban housing estate. The Irish Georgian Society, founded by Desmond Guinness, restored the house and furnished it with the help of many volunteers and sponsors, and opened it to the public, a heroic task for a small membership conservation society. Today, it is in State ownership, and it is the flagship Georgian heritage property of Ireland. It is beautifully presented, and the parklands are undergoing restoration.
A local bus, or the commuter train from Connolly Station in Amiens Street, will take one to Maynooth, a charming University town, with another magnificent Palladian mansion, Carton House, now operating as a very upmarket hotel and golf club.
Lots of companies offer day-long coach tours. Some involve very long days, i.e, Cliffs of Moher in Clare and the Giant’s Causeway on the Antrim coast. Two more local, and very worthwhile ones are either:
The Boyne Valley Tour (Newgrange Neolithic ( 5000 yr old World Heritage Site) / Mellifont Cistercian ruins- (12thC.)/ Monasterboice Early Christian (6th-8thC.)
The Wicklow-Glendalough Tour (Powerscourt / Wicklow Mountains National Park and Glendalough (Glen of the Two Lakes) a 6thC. Early Christian site, in beautiful wooded valley.
Details of both of these trips, and others, are available in the big black folder in the apartment.

A beautiful, historic, residential square, built in 1790's, within 5-10 minutes walk of the city centre. Elegance and convenience combined with a bit of inner city grittiness. I have loved it all, since 1978!

Karin's Georgian style studio was perfect for us on our honeymoon in Dublin! We were looking for a more historical, unique alternative to the more modern Air B&Bs that we were finding. The apartment was removed from the action but also close enough to walk wherever you wanted to go- we did all of Dublin by foot!

Sara2017-04-15T00:00:00Z

This is a lovely self-contained apartment for 2, beautifully equipped and decorated, with luxurious bed linen and pillows. Its in a great location, a short walk from the centre and with excellent access to local and airport buses. We were greeted by Karin's niece Orla who made us welcome and showed us the ropes without being overly fussy. Karin had left volumes of detail on local culture, pubs, eateries as well as things in the broader Dublin area. We took one of her recommendations and ate at Fade Street Social on the Friday - that was a good call. The main room is nicely furnished and comfortable - it really has everything you need including a bookcase full of Dublin/Irish authors and travel books. We didn't need to light the fire but it was left ready for us in case. Its lovely to have a place with a kitchen even when on a short break, as you can take advantage of what the local food markets have to offer rather than going out every night. This is one of the better equipped self-catering places I have been to with plenty of pans and decent sharp knives (always a good sign). My husband said he wished we were staying longer, as the bed was so comfortable. Karin warns you that the height on the mezzanine where the bed is, is restricted. Luckily both me and my husband are 5'6'' so had no problem but taller people will need to duck slightly. This was our first ever airbnb - if they are all this standard we would be very lucky. Thanks Karin and Orla, hope we left things as requested and apologies for breaking a glass - there was nothing in the details about what to do about breakages but please get in touch if you require reimbursement. Two minor points: your notes say the bus fare from the airport is 2.60 but it has gone up to 2.80; the instructions for turning off the heating were slightly confusing as the thermostat does not seem to go down to 0. When we arrived the boiler had been turned off at the switch and we did not work that out till the next morning when the heating and hot water had not come on.

Juliet2015-10-05T00:00:00Z

Karin is a good host! Was kindly waiting for us to check in and provided very detailed explanation of things to do in the city

This was an amazing stay. The home is beautiful and I highly recommend this beautiful Georgian apartment situated conveniently in Dublin.

Dawn2017-07-17T00:00:00Z

Tout était excellent - un bel endroit pour rester

Susan2016-11-18T00:00:00Z

We spent two nights in the Oval studio. The photos are representative of the beautiful apartment in Georgian style. Clean sheets, adequate bathroom, kitchen equipped with all instruments (dishwasher, microwave, etc ..). Ms. Karin welcomed us with great courtesy and availability, giving us an excellent guide, she realized, the points of interest of the city. The apartment is located 25 minutes walk from the center, on the edge of a historic district, beyond which, as Ms. Karin told us, there are several social houses.

Roberta2015-08-12T00:00:00Z

Karin's place is a lovely historic Georgian house and very well situated to discover Dublin. Karin has equipped the place beautifully with all necessary items of good quality. The place it reasonably quiet for a city place. One point, the bed of 140 cm wide is a bit narrow for 2. I would very much recommend Karin's place for a stay in Dublin.

BENOIT2017-08-16T00:00:00Z

Typ miejsca

Całe miejsce

Rodzaj nieruchomości

Apartament

Mieści

3

Sypialnie

This bright and spacious apartment is located in a Georgian house built in the 1790s and features high ceilings, huge windows and views of leafy Mountjoy Square. It's a five minute walk to historic O'Connell Street and the lively bustle of the city centre, with excellent public transport connections for the airport and for exploring more of Ireland. Come stay in the heart of Dublin and experience the everyday life of the city on your doorstep.

The apartment is located on the first floor of an old Georgian home, overlooking the greenery of Mountjoy Square Park. It most likely served as a drawing room when the house was first built and many of the original period features are still intact. The windows are floor-to-ceiling and south-facing, meaning the apartment is full of natural light throughout the day, even in winter. The open living space is perfect for lounging, reading and relaxing.
There is a fully-equipped kitchen with a microwave, fridge, oven, kettle, toaster and complimentary tea and coffee. The bed is king-sized, the bathroom has an electric power shower and there is high-speed WiFi throughout the premises.

Mountjoy Square is only a stone's throw away from Dublin's main sights, theatres, museums, galleries and parks. The apartment is located just a five minute walk to the top of historic O'Connell Street and the main shopping areas, restaurants and pubs are all within easy walking distance.
The area is also home to many working Dubliners and it's a great place to take in the ordinary life of the city. Just five minutes north of Mountjoy Square is Croke Park, the legendary home of Gaelic games and a hub of excitement and activity whenever there's a match on.

Marianne's place was a great place to end our holiday in Ireland. The apartment is in a great location and with in walking distance to the busy side of Dublin. You get to look out over the park every morning and you are a short distance from shops and dining. Great place to stay if you don't want all the noise from the main drag.

Hamilton2017-05-05T00:00:00Z

Marianne is a fantastic host and her place is beautiful. She was on site to meet us with a guide to the local eateries and shops all printed out, and the apartment is very spacious with soaring ceilings and huge windows, gorgeous. Its less than ten minutes on foot to restaurants and shops (there are small groceries and chip shops even closer) and twenty minutes to downtown. Never once had to take the bus, location is fantastic but the area is also super quiet with a nice park in front. Lots of dishes, utensils, towels etc. If you are looking for a spacious place to stay and quiet but still very accessible to the downtown area, this is the place.

John2017-06-16T00:00:00Z

The apartment is in an historical building with beautiful period furniture and every comfort. It is really quiet and sunny and l recommend it to everybody. Marianna is delicious and available.

I can not put into words the perfection of this rental. Marianne was extremely accommodating, easily accessible while my luggage was lost and attempting to be found. The apartment is above and beyond luxury. To be able to look out at any room and see the picturesque park directly across the street created that peaceful and tranquil setting not found in the city center. That said, the city center and main areas are a great and close walk. I also took taxies here and there and took the bus 7 to the center which was incredibly easy. The bus sits across the street from the front door. The bed area was so comfortable. It was truly heaven. I definitely recommend this location and will be back without a doubt. Thank you, Marianne!

Vela2016-10-20T00:00:00Z

Marianne's apartment is exactly as on the photos - beautiful, cosy, well-located. It is a great location for a short Dublin visit and would be happy to recommend it! Marianne is very sweet and friendly, a great host.

Rodzaj nieruchomości

Mieści

Sypialnie

Experience authentic Georgian elegance is this large bright studio apartment, overlooking park. Accommodates two in cosy sleeping loft. Light a fire, cook dinner in the designer kitchen, and then head out to enjoy the attractions of the city.

Come and have an authentic experience in one of Dublin's special Georgian apartments, situated on Mountjoy Square, in the heart of Dublin's North Georgian core, and just minutes from O'Connell Street.
This large studio apartment is on the first floor of a beautiful redbrick townhouse, built in 1792. Both house and apartment retain all their original features, combined with modern comforts.
The apartment has three full-length windows overlooking the gardens of Mountjoy Square. It has a working Georgian grey marble fireplace with a spectacular gilt over-mantle mirror. The fully equipped kitchen has a granite worktop, a gas hob, electric oven, dishwasher and microwave.
The rest of the apartment is comfortably furnished with period furniture, including a square Georgian dining table and four matching chairs, a comfortable Victorian antique Chesterfield sofa, TV & DVD player along with an iPod/iPhone dock for music. there are pashminas and Kashmir hand-loomed wool wraps, for cosy evenings in front of the fire.
The bedroom is upstairs and overlooks the apartment. It has a comfortable double mattress, goose down duvet and pillows, and pure cotton sheets. Read in comfort with vintage Anglepoise reading lights. Please note there is restricted headroom in the sleeping loft- 5'10-1/2", and consequently the bed is low.
The bathroom has a high-pressure shower and loads of storage space.
A single, contract-quality foldaway bed, or a single, memory-foam mattress, and extra linens are available for a third guest. Please see photos.
A surcharge of €10, to cover the cost of the extra laundry, applies for the use of the apartment as a twin. This will be collected in cash upon arrival.
• You will receive a welcome pack of the basics- quality tea, coffee, home-made granola and preserves, fruit, yoghurt, juice, milk and free-range eggs.
• 100% cotton bed linen and towels are provided
• Local tourist information and guide books available
• Free wi-fi
• Large flat-screen TV and DVD player, with selection of Irish themed DVD's
• IPod/Iphone dock for music and charging
• Library of Irish-themed books
• Playing cards and board games
• Hair dryer
• Fuel, at cost price, is available for the fire, if required.
• Washing machine and dryer are available in the building- €10:00 charge
CHECK-IN IS FROM 3pm, and CHECK-OUT IS BY 11am, please. We are happy to take in your luggage earlier. Please let us have your flight/arrival details, so that we can plan our day around being here to greet you.
The house is perfectly located for exploring the city; all of the city's cultural institutions are within walking distance and the transport connections are excellent.
Airport bus (41) passes door, 8 min. walk to LUAS Red line, DART, (Connolly and Tara) and city busses. Dublin Bikes stand opposite house.
KARIN'S GUIDE TO THE CITY
LOCAL GROCERY SHOPPING, SERVICES AND BREAKFAST OPTIONS
In general, shopping hours are 9.30-6pm, with late-night shopping till 8pm on Thursdays. Sunday opening is from noon.
BREAKFAST
The Kingfisher Café, a Dublin institution, on the corner of Parnell Square and Parnell Street West is great for a 'Full Irish Breakfast', and numerous variations, including porridge. Everything is cooked to order and the sraff are professional and friendly. Breakfast served 9am-12:30, 7 days a week. Later in the day they have excellent fish and chips.
Koffee and Kale, on the corner of Hill Street and Gardiner Place, two blocks away has great coffee and pastries, and soup/salad/sandwiches at lunchtime.
LOCAL GROCERY SHOPPING
Tops in Pops, just down the street to the right, for fresh local produce and basic groceries, 8.30am to 6pm Monday to Saturday. They are a fourth-generation local business, who have been trading on the site since 1931. The Londis corner store next door opens 8am to 10pm, but charge for privilege. There is an ATM machine at the back, right hand side of the store.
Dunne's Stores, is the indigenous supermarket and department store chain, and has branches in every sizeable town throughout the country. There are two local branches. In North Earl Street, opposite O’Connell Street’s Spire, the Off-Licence (liquor store) is in a separate premises, a few doors apart - look for the James Joyce statue. You will find a bigger branch in the ILAC Shopping Centre, flanked by Henry Street, Moore Street and Parnell Street West .
There is Metro Tesco on Parnell Street West, just past the Rotunda Hospital. A main branch is to be found in the basement of the Jervis Centre, off Henry Street.
Carney’s Butchers, is another multi-generational local family business, which prides itself on the quality of its meat. In keeping with local tradition, they sell fresh fish on Friday’s.
F.X. Buckley’s Butchers have two local branches; Moore Street and Talbot Street. This is a very old Dublin business and they have everything; free-range pork, beef and lamb from their own herds, poultry, game in season and fish, and, in the Moore Street branch, a deli counter for cooked meats next door. They are very obliging, and the lads have a great line in smart (sassy) chat.
PHARMACIES
Foley's Pharmacy on Parnell Street East is a 100+ year-old family business; they are very helpful. Opening hours: Monday-Saturday 9am 6pm. Michael recently (May 2017) won the National 'Community Pharmacist of the Year' award, and a nicer, kinder, or more helpful man you will never meet....
There is a late-night pharmacy, Hickey’s at 55 Lower O’Connell Street, (west side, within the block closest to the river). Opening hours: 8am -10pm M-F, 8.30am-10pm Saturday. 10am 10pm Sunday. Web: (EMAIL HIDDEN)
POST OFFICES
Nearest Post Office is Parnell Street East, at corner of Marlborough Street, but much nicer is the GPO, O’Connell Street. 1828 façade, but badly damaged in the 1916 Rising, and largely rebuilt in 1928. The main hall is beautiful, with its entire original, 1928, fittings intact. It also contains the iconic statue, by Oliver Shepherd, The Dying Cuchullin. You will find a booklet with postal rates in the black folder.
BANKS
Allied Irish Bank has a branch on O’Connell Street, at the SW junction with Parnell Street, opposite the Rotunda Hospital. ATM in the wall.
Bank of Ireland has a branch at Lower O’Connell Street, on the east side of the street, between Middle Abbey Street and Ashton Quay. ATM inside, opens
MEDICAL AND DENTAL PRACTICES
Mountjoy Medical Practice, Dr. Gerry Roebuck, Dr. Holly Porter (female) Dr. Colm Killeen. 2-3 Baker’s Yard, Portland Street North. Tel (PHONE NUMBER HIDDEN).
Opening hours 9-1.30 and 3.30-5.30. You can just drop in. €50 per visit. (Five blocks away, going North East)
Frederick Dental Clinic, North Frederick Street.
The dentist is happy to see people on an emergency basis. Call for appointment.
Tel:(PHONE NUMBER HIDDEN) blocks away, going West)
NORTHSIDE
LOCAL RESTAURANTS:
'The Cobalt Cafe', in a beautiful Georgian house on North Great Georges Street, which doubles as a gallery, is great for lunch. Parnell Street, Dublin's emerging 'Chinatown' is just a half a block to the south.
Newly opened, on Parnell Square West is 'Mr Fox', serving modern Irish food in a smart and comfortable setting, by the same team who operate Dublin's much lauded 'The Pig's Ear' on Nassau Street, overlooking the Trinity College playing fields..
'147 Cafe' at 147, Parnell Street East, opp the Marlborough Street junction, serve good Illy coffee, and great sandwiches, daytime hours.
Nearer the river, 'Le Bon Crubeen' (crubeen=pig's trotter- it's a modern Franco-Irish restaurant) is on Talbot Street, as is the venerable and immensely popular 'Talbot 101'. It is packed to the gunnels with locals between 5.54 and 7.15, enjoying their pre-theatre supper before the Abbey curtains rise at 7.30, when they relinquish their seats for the rest of us!
On the riverfront, I love Panem, facing the Millennium Bridge, for a quick coffee and a delicious Sicilian almond biscuit, baked on the premises. A few doors down, you'll find a cluster of Italian bars, cafes and restaurants serving good quality food. Half a block to the east is the trendy 'Winding Stairs' restaurant, with its book-lined walls (relics of a former second-hand bookshop-cum-cafe of the same name); The woollen Mills on the corner of Liffey street does great casual food, including excellent brunch. Back on Capel Street, locals rave about Brother Hubbard, and the Soup Dragon, for lunch.
Blas cafe in the Chocolate Factory, on Kings Inn Street, off Parnell Street West has an interesting, casual menu, in a bright, spacious and funky former factory (daytime).
LOCAL PUBS include the 'Hill 16' just opposite the house, on Gardiner Street - very popular with the GAA crowd on match days (the Gaelic Athletic Association Stadium, Croke Park, is just 3 blocks to the east), they pull a superb 'pint'.
‘The Heritage Parnell’, on Parnell Street West, just around the corner from O’Connell Street, does 'pub grub'.
'The Flowing Tide', on the corner of Marlborough Street, opposite the Abbey Theatre, is one of my favorites - after the curtain goes down in the Abbey, half the cast are likely to be at the bar.
A few doors closer to O’Connell Street is Mulligan’s, another very nice pub, dating from the Edwardian era.
'The Church' on Mary Street, in a converted 1720's church, is another fine place for a drink; the former owner won many accolades for the high quality of the restoration.
Capel Street has many typical local pubs, which have the added benefit of serving a largely local population. They include 'O’Neill’s' and 'Slattery's which is good for music. 'The Black Sheep' has the local craft beers covered, and does good bar food, (as does its sister pub, ‘The Brew Dock’, on Store Street, at the bottom of Gardiner Street.
The north side traditional music 'musician’s' bar is 'The Cobblestone', at the top of Smithfield, and is suitably grungy.
DEPARTMENT STORES AND FASHION
Henry Street, off O’Connell Street, at the SPIRE, is the premier shopping street on the north side of the river. Here you will find Arnott’s the local department store, which highlights Irish fashion and design, throughout the store, and has several nice cafes. Henry Street also contains large branches of Debenhams and Marks&Spencers, as well as branches of most of the high street fashion chains. There are two large shopping centres, the Jervis, with a large branch of Tesco’s in the Basement, and the ILAC, which has a Dunne's Department Store, with a Food Hall in the basement. (You can shop for fresh produce on adjacent Moore Street, Dublin's oldest street market, now also home to a thriving cluster of ethnic food markets and restaurants.)
NORTHSIDE CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS
The North side of Parnell Square is home to the city's Hugh Lane Gallery of Modern Art; we share a significant collection of Impressionist painting with the Tate Gallery in London, part of the Hugh Lane Bequest, which is rotated in seven-year cycles. (The cafe, overlooking an interior garden, is called 'Hatch'; the original is in the basement of the 'Little Museum of Dublin' on St. Stevens Green). Next door is the Writer's Centre, and next door again, is the Writer's Museum, with a Michelin-starred restaurant in the basement, the amazing Chapter One.
Down on the East side of Parnell Square is the beautiful jewel-box that is the Gate Theatre - part of the 18th-century entertainment complex established by the entrepreneurial Dr. Bartholomew, to help support his new Rotunda Maternity Hospital (the oldest purpose-built such hospital in the world, and still delivering babies on a daily basis, 270 years later (9000 in 2012).
You could be seated in either the Abbey or Gate Theatres within 10 minutes of leaving the house, and the James Joyce Cultural Centre is even closer, on North Great Georges Street (don't forget to check out the Cobalt Cafe, opposite).
Hop on the Luas Red Line, going west, in Abbey Street, halfway between Mountjoy Square and the river, and alight ‘Museum’ stop. The National Museum, Collins Barracks, housed in an old military barracks, dating from 1702, contains the Decorative Arts Collections, (basically, everything post 1700). Descend at the next stop, ‘Heuston’ for IMMA, Ireland's National Museum of Modern Art, housed in the old Kilmainham Hospital, built in the1660’s. It pre-dates its more famous sibling, the Chelsea Hospital, in London by several years.
Not to be missed is the Old Jameson Distillery, in Smithfield. Jameson was distilled here until 1971, when three historic distilleries amalgamated, and centralized distilling in Midleton, Co. Cork. The Museum is very well presented; one is guided around the distilling floor, among the huge old pot stills before retiring to the Bar to sample the goods.
Nearby is one of the oldest churches in Dublin, St.Michan’s, on Church Street, dating from the mid-11thC. There are several mummified bodies in the basement, thought to be Crusaders. When I was a child, one was allowed to shake their hands…..
SOUTHSIDE
In the south city centre, the RESTAURANT HUB is in the pedestrian streets to either side of Grafton Street, and in Temple Bar. Particular favourites of mine include:
* The Pig's Ear, Nassau Street
* Nede, Temple Bar Square
* Eden Bar and Grill, South William Street
* The Green Hen, Wicklow Street
* Fallon and Byrne, Exchequer Street, basement wine-bar, full service restaurant first- floor, and coffee bar within the food-hall on the ground floor.
* Fade Street Social, Fade Street, tapas bar and full-service restaurant.
* The Rustic Stone, Exchequer Street, upmarket, sophisticated and healthy ‘fast food’.
* Cornucopia, Wicklow Street- vegetarian café day, full service by evening.
* The Port House, South William Street, wine bar and tapas.
* Stanley's, St. Andrew Street, off Wicklow Street- wine bar and full service
* Pinxto, Crowe Street, Temple Bar, as above, same management.
* Cleaver East, Clarence Hotel - chef Oliver Dunne had a Michelin star in the parent restaurant, Bon Appetit, Malahide village, until he decided to hand it back and get a life
Southside city-centre TRADITIONAL PUBS we like are:
* Mulligan's, Poolbeg Street
* Neary's, Chatham Street
* Grogan’s, South William Street
* International Bar, Wicklow Street
* O'Neill's, Suffolk Street
* The Dawson Lounge, Dawson Street
* The Stag's Head, Connaught Court
* The Long Hall, South Great Georges Street
* Doheny and Nesbitt’s, Merrion Row
* Kehoe’s, South Anne Street
* The Duke, Duke Street
Fronting the river, TEMPLE BAR, with its vibrant mix of independent shops, cafes, restaurants, pubs, markets and cultural institutions occupies an area three blocks deep and ten blocks long. At the western end, look out for the two branches of the Queen of Tarts- a wonderful tea shop that offers really good home baking and teas and coffees, all served on mismatched antique china (Lord Edward Street and Cow's Lane). Piglet Wine Bar, on the same pedestrian street had a lovely wine selection and great tapas, at good prices.
TEMPLE BAR FARMERS MARKET, is held every Saturday in Meeting House Square, 9-4.30, now has a smart new tensile roof for wet days, and is a good place to rub shoulders with the locals, whilst sampling local food culture. Don’t miss the Oyster Stall, , or David Llewyllan’s fantastic ‘Double L’ local cider- 100% apple (not even water), and the two local cheese stalls, among others. Don’t’ forget to check out the overflow stalls on Curved Street, where Rossa Crowe’s fantastic bread is on offer- Rossa took himself off to France for two years to train, and now produces slow fermented breads, made with the very best organic flours.
SOUTHSIDE CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS
TRINITY COLLEGE is a good orientation point; from here it is easy to find the mediaeval core, the cultural/political hub of the country around Kildare Street, and the Grafton Street fashion hub.
The campus occupies a 40-acre (16ha.) site, and is over 400 years old, though what one sees today are mainly beautiful eighteenth-century buildings. It is worth a wander around, after a visit to spectacular Long Library, to see the Book of Kells and other illustrated Celtic manuscripts.
From Front Gate, look south to Grafton Street or west up College Green and Dame Street, which lead to the mediaeval core. At the brow of the hill you will find:
* Dublin Castle (visit the State Apartments, the Chester Beatty Library and the lovely garden in front (which is actually the helicopter-landing pad for the Castle).
* The City Hall with its 'Museum of the Capital' in the basement is worth a look- the Hall is free, and there is a nominal charge for the Museum.
* Christchurch Cathedral
* Dublinia-in the Christchurch Chapterhouse (Viking Exhibition).
* Old Saint Audeon's Church, built almost into the city wall.
* St Patrick's Cathedral, and historic park beside.
* Marshe's Library-the oldest public library in these islands, 1701.
* Francis Street- the Antiques Quarter.
* Thomas Street/Meath Street, for a touch of 'Old Dublin'.
* The Guinness Storehouse.
* Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, (IMMA) Ireland's National Gallery of Modern Art, with its wonderful, recently restored formal garden.
KILMINHAM GAOL is worth a visit, and tells the story of Irish Nationalism. It can be reached via the grounds of IMMA, passing Bully’s Acre, and old graveyard, where Brian Boru was reputedly rested on his way to his final burial place in Armagh.
Alternatively, exit onto Nassau Street, with its cluster of high-quality shops showcasing the best of Irish crafts - fashion, knitwear, weaving, glassware, ceramics and contemporary jewellery - the Kilkenny Shop has a great cafe upstairs, with views over College Park. The Pig's Ear restaurant is one of my all-time favourites.
Continue along the College Park railings till you reach Kildare Street, the cultural-institutional hub of the country. All of our national cultural institutions have free admission. Here you will find the National Library, and the National Museum, facing each other over the forecourt of Leinster House, home to the Oireachtas, our National Parliament. The National Library has a lovely exhibit on the poet, W.B. Yeats, and the Treasury, in the National Museum houses both the Bronze Age and Early Christian collections.
On the opposite side of the block, on Merrion Street/Merrion Square, you will find the National Gallery, and the Natural History Museum (known to Dubliner's of my father's generation, as 'The Dead Zoo’. This is a very refreshing look to the past, with absolutely no interpretation, and nothing, not even a postcard, to buy).
The National Gallery is almost through a four-year renovation programme; in the meantime, the Millennium Wing, on Clare Street, has a ‘highlights of’ exhibition, and the Café and Gift Shop are also accessed via the Clare Street Entrance.
GETTING AROUND
Two operators offer Hop-On/Hop-Off tours:
(URL HIDDEN)
(URL HIDDEN)
They both offer a 2-day ticket, and cost roughly the same price - check them out online before you make up your mind.
One can buy an integrated LEAP card in most newsagents, at train stations, and in the Dublin Bus Head Office at 42 O’Connell Street (on the west side of the street, just north of the Spire). This can be used on the LUAS, DART, some suburban mainline trains, and on Dublin Bus routes.
There is also a 3-day tourist pass, the Freedom Ticket, which provides good value. €28 will give you 72 hours transport, starting at the Airport; Airlink from the airport, the Hop-On-Hop –Off tourist bus and all local bus routes. Web: (URL HIDDEN)
•The DART, the local electric commuter train, runs north/south along the coast. The north-side city centre station is Connolly, on Amiens Street, facing Talbot Street, but I usually suggest people use Tara Street, as Connolly is also a mainline station, and is very big, and a bit confusing. Tara is purely a commuter station, and is about the same distance. It is on George’s Quay, just south of the Custom House. The other south-side city centre station is Pearse, on Westland Row, at the south end of the Trinity campus.
•The LUAS Red Line runs east-west through the north side of the city, as far east as the docks, and serves both Connolly and Heuston mainline stations. The nearest stop to Mountjoy Square is Abbey, on Middle Abbey Street, opposite the Abbey Theatre. The LUAS Green Line serves the south suburbs; Ranelagh, Dundrum, Leopardstown Racecourse, and on out to Cherrywood, on the county boundary with Wicklow.
•Main cross-city bus routes run north-south through O’Connell Street. The No.7 terminates on Mountjoy Square North, and there is a ‘shopper’s fare’ of 50c, to Grafton Street- alight at Trinity. On the return journey it skirts the Trinity campus and comes along Pearse, to the east of the campus - catch it on Clare Street, at the Millennium wing of the National Gallery.
•DUBLIN BIKES are free to use for the first half hour, and have a stand on Mountjoy Square West, but one needs to go to the Princes Street stand (to the right hand side of the General Post Office (GPO)), to purchase a short term card. It costs €2, and is only available to credit card holders.
SHOPPING WITH A DIFFERENCE
Those interested in the local fashion, art and design scene should look out for the following addresses (in no particular order):
•Designist, South Great George's Street (stock chosen for good design)
•Irish Design Store, Drury Street
•Article, Powerscourt Townhouse Centre (housewares)
•Irish Designer Store, Top floor Powerscourt Townhouse Centre
•Cow's Lane Gallery, Temple Bar (artist’s collective)
•The Jam Factory, Nicholas Street (artist’s collective)
•Avoca, Suffolk Street
•Kilkenny Shop, Nassau Street
•Designyard, South Frederick Street (jewellery)
•Louise Kennedy, couturier, Merrion Square, and Tipperary Crystal
•Gallery Zozimus, Francis Street (art gallery and carefully chosen crafts)
•Graphic Studio Gallery, Temple Bar (artist-printmaker’s gallery)
•Malthouse Design Centre and Shop, Distillery Court, 537 North Circular
•Magee's of Donegal, Wicklow Street, and,
•Kevin and Howlin, Nassau Street have hand-woven tweeds covered.
•Dubarry's, College Green produce wonderful, country-style outerwear, including the most perfect alternative to sweaty, waterproof Wellington boots…
•Monaghan's, Hibernian Way, the House of Ireland on Nassau Street and the Sweater Shops on Wicklow Street and Nassau Street has the best selections of traditional knitwear. Monaghan's specialise in cashmere.
•The Cloth Shop, St. William Street, for interesting designer fabric, including a good selection of Irish Linen, and Liberty of London
INDEPENDENT BOOKSHOPS and MUSIC STORES
Eason’s, O’Connell Street, is a Dublin institution for over 100 years. It encompasses a large stationery department, a branch of Tower Records on the top floor, academic books in the basement, a nice café and two floors of general books. It is a good place to browse books of Irish interest, and they have a really good Information Desk.
Chapters, Parnell Street West is my ‘local’. John Gannon is one of the best booksellers in the business, and his staff are hand-picked enthusiastic bibliophiles, one and all. Stock is a mixture of the latest releases, and carefully chosen remaindered books. Their ordering service is superlative, and they ALWAYS know exactly what one is talking about, even with just the vaguest, half-remembered clues from a newspaper review. Very strong on contemporary fiction, natural history, non-fiction and books of Irish interest. Extensive second-hand section upstairs.
The Secret Bookstore, Wicklow Street is another favourite. It’s tucked away down a passage, near the L’Occitane shop and often throws up gems among its large second-hand stock. An eclectic music store occupies the rear of the shop.
Cathach Rare Books, Duke Street, specializes in Irish first editions, and have an interesting selection of Irish maps and prints.
Stokes Books is another interesting antiquarian/secondhand shop, specializing in books of Irish interest. You’ll find it in Georges Street Arcade.
Claddagh Records, Cecelia Street, Temple Bar, is primarily a music publisher, but they have a retail outlet in Temple Bar, which is the oldest independent music shop in Dublin, and specializes in traditional Irish music, with some interesting World Music additions.
PLACES OF WORSHIP:
Roman Catholic:
Many Catholic churches have Mass on Saturday evening, in addition to morning Masses.
•St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church, Upper Gardiner Street. Gospel Mass, 7.30pm Sundays, September to mid June.
•St. Mary's Metropolitan Church - the Pro-Cathedral, Marlborough. Sung Mass, 11am, Sundays, with the Palestrina Choir.
•St. Joseph’s Church, Berkeley Road, Dublin 7.
•St. Teresa’s Church, Clarendon Street Church, choir sings at 11 o’clock Mass, Sunday’s
•St. Peter’s Church, Phibsborough, Dublin 7, has wonderful Harry Clarke ((PHONE NUMBER HIDDEN)) stained glass windows.
•Whitefriars Street Church, Aungier Street, church has relics of St. Valentine.
Church of Ireland:
•Christchurch Cathedral, Christchurch Place, sung Services Sundays,
•St. Patrick's Cathedral, Nicholas Street, sung Services Sundays.
•St. Anne’s Church, Dawson Street, Dublin 2
Jewish:
Dublin Hebrew Congregation
(URL HIDDEN)
Daily services in Synagogue at 32a Rathfarnham Road,
Public Transport:
Buses: (PHONE NUMBER HIDDEN).
Get off at Terenure Cross (road). Walk up Rathfarnham Road, pass AIB Bank and one row of terraced houses; shul is next building, with wooden/metal security gates. Across the street is a shop called Window Fashions.
Dublin Jewish Progressive Congregation (DJPC)
Website: (URL HIDDEN)
Email: (EMAIL HIDDEN)
Postal: PO Box 3059, Dublin 6
President: Mrs. Hilary Abrahamson
Muslim:
Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland (ICCI)
19 Roebuck Road, Clonskeagh, Dublin 14,
Tel: (PHONE NUMBER HIDDEN)
Islamic Foundation of Ireland (IFI)
163 South Circular Road, Dublin 8.
Tel: +(PHONE NUMBER HIDDEN)
Anwar-up-Madina
Moore Street, Dublin 1.
SHORT TRIPS OUTSIDE THE CITY BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT
NORTH:
Catch the No.46A bus, (heading north on O'Connell Street to the Phoenix Park- the largest enclosed urban park in the world, 1750 acres behind a seven-mile-long stone wall. Ashtown Castle Interpretive Centre, with its wonderful walled garden and café is a good place to orient oneself. From here, on Saturdays, it is possible to visit Aras an Uachtarian, the official residence of our President. One can also visit Farmliegh, the Official State Guesthouse, a former Guinness mansion. Among it’s attractions are an art gallery, café, occasional free concerts, and regular weekend Farmer’s Markets. The Park also houses the Dublin Zoo, (1827, the second-oldest Zoo in the world, after London’s Regent Park Zoo). Several herd of Fallow Deer roam at liberty.
Many sports are catered for; there is Polo ground, a cricket club, and lots soccer pitches. The Duke of Wellington is commemorated by a marvellous Sobelisk, and the Forty Acres affords superb views over the city, with the Royal Hospital and Guinness Brewery in the foreground, along the south side of the River Liffey. Phoenix Park can also be reached via the LUAS Red Line, direction Tallagh, heading west. Alight at 'Museum' and take a detour into the National Museum-Collins Barracks, which houses the Decorative Arts, post-1700, wonderful collections of silver, furniture, glass and other artifacts.
Just up the road, in Glasnevin, there are three worthwhile attractions: Glasnevin Cemetary, was founded by Daniel O’Connell as one of his first initiatives, post Catholic Emancipation in 1829, to provide a dignified place for Catholic burial. The Glasnevin Museum is new, and has superlative displays of Nationalist history. They also have a very good Geneology Department.
The National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, date from the end of 18thC. Though relatively small, they contain an internationally-aclaimed collection of plants and three iconic Glasshouses, by Turner of Dublin, which have all been restored in the recent past. There is a nice café in the Gardens, and entry is free. The Gravedigger’s Pub, over-looking a Green, is not to be missed. It acquired its name from the fact that there used to be a hatch in the rear wall, through which the gravediggers were served. They do nice simple pub food, and one can sit outside on sunny days. Walk back into town, and stop at either the The Botanic Bar at Harte’s Corner or the Brian Boru, typicl local bars. The Whitworth, at Cross Guns Bridge, with nice food, is on the corner of the Royal Canal. Take a stroll east down the canal bank, and you will see swans, and moor-hens going about their business. At the next bridge, at Dorset Street, look out for the lifesize bronze statue of Brendan Behan, a local author. From here is just a few minute’s stroll up Belvidere Place, with its charming stepped terraces of tall Georgian houses, to Mountjoy Square.
Another favourite is the Marino Casino, in Fairview/Clontarf, an early 18th century pleasure house, built to the design of Sir William Chambers, for Lord Charlemont, purely for entertaining, also just a few miles by bus, north of the city centre.
Catch the DART, the coastal commuter train, heading north, at Tara Street Station, on the South Liffey quays, at Butt Bridge, and take a short ride. You have the choice of Howth (a working fishing village) or Malahide.
Howth Demesne or Howth Head, behind the village will both afford walks with great views; the Harbour has a dozen restaurants along the quay- ranging from take-out fish and chips to the very upmarket. Book an early-evening window table at Aqua, and be astonished by the sunset over the coast, looking north-west. Another favourite of mine is Deep, midway along the quay (and do watch out for the local tame and greedy Harbour Seal, who begs shamelessly from the trawler men, who tie up alongside).
Malahide is a charming village, with some of the most expensive urban residential properties in the country. Good food and good shopping are to be had here. On the edge of the village you will find Malahide Castle and Demesne, open to the public, which includes a renowned private Arboretum, as Milo de Malahide, the last of his family, (who had occupied the castle continuously since Norman times, in the 10th-12th centuries) was a significant plants-man. The Castle contains the National Portrait Collection, as was as magnificent furniture and other contents. There is a smart new branch of the AVOCA Shop and Café in the Courtyard. Oliver Dunne's restaurant, Bon Appetit, on St. James Terrace, has superb food in elegant, relaxed surroundings.(This restaurant had a Michelin star for years, but the chef/patron decided to return it, and simplify his life - a case of 'been there-done that'.)
SOUTH:
South of the city you will find Rathfarnham Castle, and its Berkeley Costume and Toy Collection (No. 16 bus). Marley Park is a little further, just at the foot of the Dublin Mountains. It has wonderful parkland with easy walks, and a magnificent walled garden with a nice cafe. The No.16 bus, from O’Connell Street will leave you close by.
Powerscourt is at the edge of Enniskerry, its associated estate village, at the end of the No.44 bus route, which winds its way through the south side suburbs, into Wicklow, through the Scalp, a deep and picturesque glacial valley. The 19th century gardens are fabulous, and make great use of the 'borrowed landscape' beyond. The terrace and Nepture fountain are centred on the Sugarloaf mountain, which marks the beginning of the Wicklow Mountains. The Powerscourt Waterfall, part of the same estate, is a few miles further on, and there are beautiful, way-marked, woodland and moorland walks in the hills nearby. Do be mindful; these ‘mountains’ can be deceptive- while not high, they can be treacherous, as weather conditions can change in minutes. Stick to the way-marked paths, and do keep an eye on the weather.
Take the DART south to Bray and Greystones - via Dun Loughaire, Dalkey and Killiney - all interesting villages, with many cafes and restaurants.
Killiney Hill, with its eighteenth century obelisk at the summit, is a short climb that results in amazing views over Dublin Bay, and down into the Wicklow Mountains beyond. There is a nice pub in in the ‘village’- ‘The Druid’s Chair’.
Dalkey is a charming village with old-fashioned shops and lots of nice pubs, cafes and restaurants. The local Dalkey Castle Heritage Centre, is worth checking out, and in the summer run a theatre programme, and walking tours.
Bray Esplanade is a classic Victorian seaside amenity, sturdily built from local granite - the perfect place to enjoy an ice-cream. Campo di Fiori, either the Restaurant or the Café, both near the train station and the north end of the Promenade, are particular favourites of mine.
If one is feeling energetic, one could contemplate the Cliff Walk from Bray to Greystones - 4miles/6km along the rough cliff path. Lots of nice pubs for a pint of Guinness at the other end, The Hungry Pear is my favourite café, among many. The DART will take you straight back into the city. But.. make sure to do it in the morning, as by mid-day the path is in shade, and it can be windy and cold.
WEST:
Travelling into the rich plains of Kildare, by the No. 67 bus route, you will come to the historic village of Celbridge, just twelve miles from the city centre. Castletown House is Ireland's finest Palladian mansion, and was saved from destruction by Desmond Guinness, in the early 1960's. He purchased it from the construction company who had acquired it. They intended to demolish it, to make way for a vast suburban housing estate. The Irish Georgian Society, founded by Desmond Guinness, restored the house and furnished it with the help of many volunteers and sponsors, and opened it to the public, a heroic task for a small membership conservation society. Today, it is in State ownership, and it is the flagship Georgian heritage property of Ireland. It is beautifully presented, and the parklands are undergoing restoration.
A local bus, or the commuter train from Connolly Station in Amiens Street, will take one to Maynooth, a charming University town, with another magnificent Palladian mansion, Carton House, now operating as a very upmarket hotel and golf club.
Lots of companies offer day-long coach tours. Some involve very long days, i.e, Cliffs of Moher in Clare and the Giant’s Causeway on the Antrim coast. Two more local, and very worthwhile ones are either:
The Boyne Valley Tour (Newgrange Neolithic ( 5000 yr old World Heritage Site) / Mellifont Cistercian ruins- (12thC.)/ Monasterboice Early Christian (6th-8thC.)
The Wicklow-Glendalough Tour (Powerscourt / Wicklow Mountains National Park and Glendalough (Glen of the Two Lakes) a 6thC. Early Christian site, in beautiful wooded valley.
Details of both of these trips, and others, are available in the big black folder in the apartment.

A beautiful, historic residential square, built in 1790's, within 5-10 minutes walk of the city centre. Elegance and convenience combined with a bit of inner city grittiness. I have loved it all, since 1978!

Karin is a great host, and the apartment is nice. However, there is a lot of noise from traffic at night, and there are no separate sleeping rooms. The apartment sleeps 3, but is actually more suited for couples. There was a lot if well prepared info about Dublin available in the apparent, and Karin is very helpful to give you the best time. If you are a couple I highly recommend this apartment.

Aernoud2013-11-02T00:00:00Z

The location of the apartment is great as its very close to all attractions. Karin was a great host an excellent person. She recommended us great places where to go and gave us great tips. The apartment is really nice but a little bit noisy at night because the apartment faces a Main Street. If you have light sleep, that will be an issue for you and also we found the mattress too soft for us.

We had a great experience at Karin's flat! The location was great- it wasn't right in the tourist center of Dublin, but everything was within an easy 10-15 minute walk. The apartment was lovely and felt very cozy. The architectural features were gorgeous. The only downside was that it was on a fairly busy street and was a bit loud- not atypical for something in the city. I'm a very light sleeper, but with earplugs, I slept fine. Karin was a very gracious host. She left us a few groceries in the fridge- milk, orange juice, eggs, etc. Also, Karin's guidebook was very thorough and helpful! On our way to the airport Karin even went out in the rain to flag a taxi for us!

The location is perfect in that it is an easy walk to all the sites and shops, while being just far enough out side of the city center to be quiet at night. Having a parking spot was also super convenient and made it easy to drive in from the airport and then continue our trip after exploring Dublin. The flat has all you need and breakfast was included. Duncan and Gabby were both responsive to any questions and Gabby was accommodating with our later than planned check in. Our stay was a great experience and I highly recommend Duncan's place.

If you are lucky enough to visit Ireland I hope you are doubly lucky to stay at Duncan's. Our first time in Ireland and first experience with Airbnb, my adult daughter, son and I stayed at Duncan's in Dublin. The apartment was perfect! Immaculately clean and bright, beautiful views, comfy beds, 2 bathrooms and showers, full kitchen, living/dining room and balcony with table to eat outside. It is a short walk to bus, train and center of Dublin. But the best part of our stay was Duncan, himself! He kept in touch before, during and after our stay to make sure everything with our trip was going smoothly. When our taxi from the airport deposited us in the wrong place (we should've taken Duncan up on his offer to arrange the taxi for us), he picked us up and brought us to the apartment. He was a truly lovely host and treated us like family. We only stayed two nights and then moved on to other parts of Ireland and Germany but throughout our trip we felt we had a friend in Dublin we could contact. He was awesome, even suggesting activities we may enjoy and offering to help make arrangements for us along the way. We were very, very lucky to have had Duncan as our 'first face of Ireland'.

Laurie2016-07-12T00:00:00Z

Duncan was great! Even though we didn't get to meet face to face he provides us with helpful information before our trip and during though social media apps. Duncan and his friends were flexible and helpful. Over a wonderful experience!!

Erica2016-07-06T00:00:00Z

We (2 couples) spent two fantastic nights during our stay in Dublin on July. What made our stay fantastic was the amazing kindness and availability of the Owner, Duncan, who pampered us with his kindness and availability. He speaks a fluent Italian and he perfectly supported us in every request we had, handling very efficiently a small inconvenience on our rental car. The accommodation is clean, comfortable, quiet, fully equipped and grants the privacy by two bedrooms on the two floors of the flat, with own bathroom each. The location is perfect to move everywhere in Dublin, being 15 min walk from Temple Bar, 20 min from St Patrick Cathedral and 40 min from Guinness Storehouse. For non walk lovers, tram stops are behind the corner. Thank you Duncan and Dublin, see you soon!

Come and have an authentic experience in one of Dublin's special Georgian apartments, situated on Mountjoy Square, in the heart of Dublin's North Georgian core, and just minutes from O'Connell Street.
This large studio apartment is on the second floor of a beautiful redbrick townhouse, built in 1792. Both house and apartment retain all their original features, combined with modern comforts. It is approximately 400 sq ft, or 38m2.
It has just been completely redecorated (July 2015) and has a smart new bathroom with a large walk-in high-pressure shower. It has a new 40" smart TV and DVD player. The well designed kitchen has a gas hob, electric oven, dishwasher and microwave, and all the equipment you might need to cook a gourmet meal. Basic condiments are provided as well as a generous 'welcome pack' for breakfast. All you need to buy is some bread!
The East-facing apartment is flooded with light from the three full-length windows overlooking the gardens of Mountjoy Square. It has a Georgian pink marble period fireplace fitted with a high-output gas stove.
The rest of the apartment is comfortably furnished with period furniture, including a Georgian dining table and four matching chairs, and a pair of comfortable leather tub chairs. There are Kashmir hand-loomed wool wraps, for cosy evenings in front of the fire. It is decorated with fine art prints from Graphic Studio Dublin.
The bed folds away and has a comfortable double mattress, goose down duvet and pillows, and pure cotton sheets. Read in comfort with vintage Anglepoise reading lights.
If needed, a single, contract-quality foldaway bed, and all linens are available for a extra guest. Please see photos. A surcharge of €10, to cover the cost of the extra laundry, applies for the use of the apartment as a twin. This will be collected in cash upon arrival.
• You will receive a welcome pack of the basics- quality tea, coffee, home-made granola and preserves, fruit, juice and organic natural yoghurt and free-range eggs.
• 100% cotton bed linen and towels are provided
• Local tourist information and guide books available
• Free wi-fi
• Large flat-screen TV and DVD player, with selection of Irish themed DVD's
• Library of Irish-themed books
• Playing cards and board games
• Hair dryer
• Washing machine and dryer are available in the building- we will do your laundry for you - €10 charge
CHECK-IN IS FROM 3pm, and CHECK-OUT IS BY 11am, please. We are happy to take in your luggage earlier. Please let us have your flight/arrival details, so that we can plan our day around being here to greet you.
The house is perfectly located for exploring the city; all of the city's cultural institutions are within walking distance, and the transport connections are excellent.
Airport bus (41) passes door on the way OUT of the city, 8 min. walk to LUAS Red line, DART, (Connolly and Tara) and city busses. Dublin Bikes stand opposite house.

Mountjoy Square is situated just NE of the historic city centre, within walking distance of just about all the main city attractions. It is the most densely populated area in the entire city: 1500 people have front doors opening onto the Square.
The house fronts onto a 4acre/1.5ha park, across a fairly busy street. YOU WILL HEAR TRAFFIC...Please bear in mind that this is NOT LEAFY SUBURBIA, but a vibrant, living city community and it's definitely gritty in places... Having said that, I have lived here, uneventfully, for nearly 38 years, and consider the trade-offs well worth it, for the excitement and convenience of having the city on my doorstep..
LOCAL GROCERY SHOPPING, SERVICES AND BREAKFAST OPTIONS
In general, shopping hours are 9.30-6pm, with late-night shopping till 8pm on Thursdays. Sunday opening is from noon.
BREAKFAST
The Koffee and Kale, just around the corner, on Hill Street, has superb coffee and great pastries, and an interesting range of sandwiches/salads/wraps at lunchtime. The OldMusic Store on North Frederick Street is comfortable and reliable. Cafe 147 on Parnell Street also has good coffee. Later in the morning, and for lunch, I love the Cobalt Cafe on North Great Georges Street,
LOCAL GROCERY SHOPPING
Tops in Pops, just down the street to the right, for fresh local produce and basic groceries, 8.30am to 6pm Monday to Saturday. They are a fourth-generation local business, who have been trading on the site since 1931. The Londis corner store next door opens 8am to 10pm, but charge for privilege. There is an ATM machine at the back, right hand side of the store.
Dunne's Stores, is the indigenous supermarket and department store chain, and has branches in every sizeable town throughout the country. There are two local branches. In North Earl Street, opposite O’Connell Street’s Spire, the Off-Licence (liquor store) is in a separate premises, a few doors apart - look for the James Joyce statue. You will find a bigger branch in the ILAC Shopping Centre, flanked by Henry Street, Moore Street and Parnell Street West (Moore Street entrance is opposite Paris Bakery).
The other national supermarket, chain, my favourite, is Supervalu, with a branch on Talbot Street, one block east of Gardiner Street. Have a look at their FLAVOUR ACADEMY section, which highlights smaller, local artisan producers.
There is Metro Tesco on Parnell Street West, just past the Rotunda Hospital. A main branch is to be found in the basement of the Jervis Centre, off Henry Street. Lidl have a branch on Moore Street, opposite Tesco, and Aldi a branch a little further along Parnell Street.
Carney’s Butchers, is another multi-generational local family business, which prides itself on the quality of its meat. In keeping with local tradition, they sell fresh fish on Friday’s.
F.X. Buckley’s Butchers have two local branches; Moore Street and Talbot Street. This is a very old Dublin business and they have everything; free-range pork, beef and lamb from their own herds, poultry, game in season and fish, and, in the Moore Street branch, a deli counter for cooked meats next door. They are very obliging, and the lads have a great line in smart (sassy) chat.
POST OFFICES
Nearest Post Office is Parnell Street East, at corner of Marlborough Street, but much nicer is the GPO, O’Connell Street. 1828 façade, but badly damaged in the 1916 Rising, and largely rebuilt in 1928. The main hall is beautiful, with all its original fittings intact. It also contains the iconic statue, by Oliver Shephard, The Dying Cuchullain. The brand-new museum Witness History, is in the basement, and interprets the revolution of 1916 brilliantly.
BANKS
Allied Irish Bank has a branch on O’Connell Street, at the SW junction with Parnell Street, opposite the Rotunda Hospital.
Bank of Ireland has a branch at Lower O’Connell Street, on the east side of the street, between Middle Abbey Street and Ashton Quay.
PHARMACIES
Foley's Pharmacy on Parnell Street East is a 100+ year-old family business; they are very helpful. Opening hours: Monday-Saturday 9am 6pm.
There is a late-night pharmacy, Hickey’s at 55 Lower O’Connell Street, (west side, within the block closest to the river). Opening hours: 8am -10pm M-F, 8.30am-10pm Saturday. 10am 10pm Sunday. Web: (EMAIL HIDDEN)
MEDICAL AND DENTAL PRACTICES
Mountjoy Medical Practice, Dr. Gerry Roebuck, Dr. Holly Porter (female) Dr. Colm Killeen. 2-3 Baker’s Yard, Portland Street North.
TEL: (PHONE NUMBER HIDDEN) or (PHONE NUMBER HIDDEN)
OPENING HOURS: 9-1.30 and 3.30-5.30. €50 per visit.
8-minute walk away, to the North East of the Square, across the North Circular Road. Please ask for directions.
Frederick Dental Practice is happy to see people on an emergency basis.
Frederick Dental Practice, 33 North Frederick Street, Dublin 1
TEL: (PHONE NUMBER HIDDEN). COST:€60.
OPENING HOURS: 8AM- 5PM
8-minute walk away, to the West. Please ask for directions.
PLACES OF WORSHIP:
Roman Catholic:
St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church, Upper Gardiner Street.
St. Mary's Metropolitan Church - the Pro-Cathedral, Marlborough. Sung Mass, 11am, Sundays, with the Palestrina Choir.
St. Jospeh’s Church, Berkeley Road, Dublin 7.
St. Teresa’s Church, off Grafton Street.
Whitefriar Street Church, Aungier Street, Dublin 2.
HOURS: Generally, Masses are on the hour or the half-hour.
Many Catholic churches have Mass on Saturday evening, from 5pm onwards (check individual church websites), in addition to morning Masses.
Church of Ireland:
Christchurch Cathedral, Christchurch Place, Church of Ireland, sung Services Sundays,
St. Patrick's Cathedral, Nicholas Street, Church of Ireland, sung services Sundays.
St. Anne’s Church, Dawson Street, Dublin 2
Jewish:
Dublin Hebrew Congregation
(URL HIDDEN)
Daily services in Synagogue at 32a Rathfarnham Road,
Public Transport:
Buses: (PHONE NUMBER HIDDEN).
Get off at Terenure Cross (road). Walk up Rathfarnham Road, pass AIB Bank and one row of terraced houses; shul is next building, with wooden/metal security gates. Across the street is a shop called Window Fashions.
Dublin Jewish Progressive Congregation (DJPC)
Website: (URL HIDDEN)
Email: (EMAIL HIDDEN)
Postal: PO Box 3059, Dublin 6
President: Mrs Hilary Abrahamson
Muslim:
Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland (ICCI)
19 Roebuck Road, Clonskeagh, Dublin 14,
Tel: (PHONE NUMBER HIDDEN)
Islamic Foundation of Ireland (IFI)
163 South Circular Road, Dublin 8.
Tel: +(PHONE NUMBER HIDDEN)
Anwar-ul-Madina
Moore Street, Dublin 1.
KARIN'S GUIDE TO THE CITY
NORTHSIDE
LOCAL RESTAURANTS:
'The Cobalt Cafe', in a beautiful Georgian house on North Great Georges Street, which doubles as a gallery, is great for lunch. Parnell Street East, Dublin's emerging 'Chinatown' is just a half a block to the south. My favourite is Viet Pho, a squeaky-clean, friendly Vietnamese restaurant. Look also for the Illy sign at No. 147- for some of the best coffee, soup and sandwiches going.
Local fine dining is catered for at 'Mr. Fox', the new Northside outpost of 'The Pig's Ear', Nassau Street, overlooking Trinity College playing fields. They serve modern Irish food in a smart and comfortable basement setting, on Parnell Square West.
Ross Lewis's incomparable Chapter One, on the North side of that Square, in the basement of the Writer's Museum, has had a Michelin star for years. The food is brilliant, and it's superbly comfortable and very professional, but has that laid-back quality that we Irish rate so highly. World class, but sans pretensions. But, it comes at a price, and the need to book at least two weeks in advance. Definitely one to consider for a special occasion. A long lazy lunch on Friday afternoon, is my favourite time.
Nearer the river, 'Le Bon Crubeen' (crubeen=pig's trotter- it's a modern Franco-Irish restaurant) is on Talbot Street, as is the venerable and immensely popular 'Talbot 101'. It is packed to the gunnels with locals between 5.54 and 7.15, enjoying their pre-theatre supper before the Abbey curtains rise at 7.30, when they relinquish their seats for the rest of us!
On the riverfront, I love Panem, facing the Millennium Bridge, for a quick coffee and a delicious Sicilian almond biscuit, baked on the premises. A few doors down, you'll find a cluster of Italian bars, cafes and restaurants serving good quality food. Half a block to the east is the trendy 'Winding Stairs' restaurant, with its book-lined walls (relics of a former second-hand bookshop-cum-cafe of the same name), while back on Capel Street, locals rave about Brother Hubbard for lunch. A new one to consider is the Woollen Mills, at the Halfpenny Bridge - modern 'plates' at various prices, designed to be shared, and if your lucky, a view down on the river. They also offer a superb brunch at the weekends, as well as coffee and cakes throughout the day, all week long.
LOCAL PUBS include the 'Hill 16' just opposite the house, on Gardiner Street - very popular with the GAA crowd on match days (the Gaelic Athletic Association Stadium, Croke Park, is just 3 blocks to the east), they pull a superb 'pint'. ‘The Heritage Parnell’, on Parnell Street West, just around the corner from O’Connell Street 'The Flowing Tide', on the corner of Marlborough Street, opposite the Abbey Theatre, is one of my favorites - after the curtain goes down in the Abbey, half the cast are likely to be at the bar. A few doors closer to O’Connell Street is Mulligan’s, another very nice pub, dating from the Edwardian era. 'The Church' on Mary Street, in a converted 1720's church, is another fine place for a drink; the former owner won many accolades for the high quality of the restoration. Capel Street has many typical local pubs, which have the added benefit of serving a largely local population. They include 'O’Neill’s' and 'Slattery's which is good for music. 'The Black Sheep' has the local craft beers covered, and does good bar food, (as does it's sister pub, ‘The Brew Dock’, on Store Street, at the bottom of Gardiner Street. The north side traditional music 'musician’s' bar is 'The Cobblestone', at the top of Smithfield, and is suitably grungy.
DEPARTMENT STORES AND FASHION
Henry Street, off O’Connell Street, at the SPIRE, is the premier shopping street on the north side of the river. Here you will find Arnott’s the local department store, which highlights Irish fashion and design, throughout the store, and has several nice cafes. Henry Street also contains large branches of Debenhams and Marks&Spencers, as well as branches of most of the high street fashion chains. There are two large shopping centres, the Jervis, with a large branch of Tesco’s in the Basement, and the ILAC, which has a Dunnes Department Store, with a Food Hall in the basement. (You can shop for fresh produce on adjacent Moore Street, Dublin's oldest street market, now also home to a thriving cluster of ethnic food markets and restaurants.) Sadly Dublin lost Clery’s Department Store is on O’Connell Street in July 2015, but do have a look at the elegant 1940’s neo-classical façade, a mini version of Selfridges’s in London, while we wait to see what takes Clery's place.
NORTHSIDE CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS
The North side of Parnell Square is home to the city's Hugh Lane Gallery of Modern Art; we share a significant collection of Impressionist painting with the Tate Gallery in London, part of the Hugh Lane Bequest, which is rotated in seven-year cycles. Next door is the Writer's Centre, and next door again, is the Writer's Museum, with a Michelin-starred restaurant in the basement, the amazing Chapter One. Down on the East side of Parnell Square is the beautiful jewel-box that is the Gate Theatre - part of the 18th-century entertainment complex established by the entrepreneurial Dr. Bartholomew, to help support his new Rotunda Maternity Hospital (the oldest purpose-built such hospital in the world, and still delivering babies on a daily basis, 270 years later (9000 is 2012).
You could be seated in either the Abbey or Gate Theatres within 10 minutes of leaving the house, and the James Joyce Cultural Centre is even closer, on North Great Georges Street (don't forget to check out the Cobalt Cafe, opposite).
Hop on the Luas Red Line, going west, in Abbey Street, halfway between Mountjoy Square and the river, and you will be dropped at the ‘Museum’. The National Museum, Collins Barracks, housed in an old military barracks, dating from 1702, contains the Decorative Arts Collections, (basically, everything post 1700). Descend at the next stop, ‘Heuston’ for IMMA, Ireland's National Museum of Modern Art, housed in the old Kilmainham Hospital, built in the1660’s. It pre-dates the more famous Chelsea Hospital in London by several years.
Not to be missed is the Old Jameson Distillery, in Smithfield. Jameson was distilled here until 1971, when three historic distilleries amalgamated, and centralized distilling in Midleton, Co. Cork. The Museum is very well presented; one is guided around the distilling floor, among the huge old pot stills before retiring to the Bar to sample the goods.
Nearby is one of the oldest churches in Dublin, St.Michan’s, on Church Street, dating from the mid-11thc. There are several mummified bodies in the basement, thought to be Crusaders. When I was a child, one was allowed to shake their hands…..
SOUTHSIDE
In the south city centre, the RESTAURANT HUB is in the pedestrian streets to either side of Grafton Street, and in Temple Bar. Particular favourites of mine include:
* Nede, Temple Bar Square
* Eden Bar and Grill, South William Street
* The Green Hen, Wicklow Street
* Fallon and Byrne, Exchequer Street, basement wine-bar, full service restaurant first- floor, and coffee bar within the food-hall on the ground floor.
* Fade Street Social, Fade Street, tapas bar and full-service restaurant.
* The Rustic Stone, Exchequer Street, upmarket, sophisticated and healthy ‘fast food’.
* Cornucopia, Wicklow Street- vegetarian café day, full service by evening.
* The Port House, South William Street, wine bar and tapas.
* Pinxto, Crowe Street, Temple Bar, as above, same management.
* Stanleys, St. Andrew Street - wine bar and ambitious food in a relaxed,
initmate setting.
* Pichet, Trinity Street, is one of my all-time favourites.
Southside city-centre TRADITIONAL PUBS we like are:
* Mulligan's, Poolbeg Street
* Neary's, Chatham Street
* Grogan’s, South William Street
* International Bar, Wicklow Street
* O'Neill's, Suffolk Street
* The Dawson Lounge, Dawson Street
* The Stag's Head, Connaught Court
* The Long Hall, South Great Georges Street
* Doheny and Nesbitt’s, Merrion Row
* Kehoe’s, South Anne Street
* The Duke, Duke Street
(PLEASE NOTE- these are traditional city pubs- and DON'T have MUSIC)
Fronting the river, TEMPLE BAR, with its vibrant mix of independent shops, cafes, restaurants, pubs, markets and cultural institutions occupies an area three blocks deep and ten blocks long. At the western end, look out for the two branches of the Queen of Tarts- a wonderful teas shop that offers really good home baking and teas and coffees, all served on mismatched antique china (Lord Edward Street and Cow's Lane).
TEMPLE BAR FARMERS MARKET, is held every Saturday in Meeting House Square, 9-4.30, now has a smart new tensile roof for wet days, and is a good place to rub shoulders with the locals, whilst sampling local food culture. Don’t miss the Oyster Stall, Hick’s Pork Butchers, or David Llewyllan’s fantastic ‘Double L’ local cider- 100% apple (not even water), and the two local cheese stalls, among others. Don’t’ forget to check out the overflow stalls on Curved Street, where Rossa Crowe’s fantastic bread is on offer- Rossa took himself off to France for two years to train, and now produces slow fermented breads, made with the very best organic flours.
SOUTHSIDE CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS
TRINITY COLLEGE is a good orientation point; from here it is easy to find the mediaeval core, the cultural/political hub of the country around Kildare Street, and the Grafton Street fashion hub.
The campus occupies a 40-acre (16ha.) site, and is over 400 years old, though what one sees today are mainly beautiful eighteenth-century buildings. It is worth a wander around, after a visit to spectacular Long Library, to see the Book of Kells and other illustrated Celtic manuscripts.
From Front Gate, look south to Grafton Street or west up College Green and Dame Street, which lead to the mediaeval core. At the brow of the hill you will find:
* Dublin Castle (visit the State Apartments, the Chester Beatty Library and the lovely garden in front (which is actually the helicopter-landing pad for the Castle).
* The City Hall with its 'Museum of the Capital' in the basement is worth a look- the Hall is free, and there is a nominal charge for the Museum.
* Christchurch Cathedral
* Dublinia-in the Christchurch Chapterhouse (Viking Exhibition).
* Old Saint Audeon's Church, built almost into the city wall.
* St Patrick's Cathedral, and historic park beside.
* Marshe's Library-the oldest public library in these islands, 1701.
* Francis Street- the Antiques Quarter.
* Thomas Street/Meath Street, for a touch of 'Old Dublin'.
* The Guinness Storehouse.
* Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, (IMMA) Ireland's National Gallery of Modern Art, with its wonderful, recently restored formal garden.
KILMINHAM GAOL is worth a visit, and tells the story of Irish Nationalism. It can be reached via the grounds of IMMA, passing Bully’s Acre, and old graveyard, where Brian Boru was reputedly rested on his way to his final burial place in Armagh.
Alternatively, exit onto Nassau Street, with its cluster of high-quality shops showcasing the best of Irish crafts - fashion, knitwear, weaving, glassware, ceramics and contemporary jewellery - the Kilkenny Shop has a great cafe upstairs, with views over College Park.
Continue along the College Park railings till you reach Kildare Street, the cultural-institutional hub of the country. All of our national cultural institutions have free admission. Here you will find the National Library, and the National Museum, facing each other over the forecourt of Leinster House, home to the Oireachtas, our National Parliament. The National Library has a lovely exhibit on the poet, W.B. Yeats, and the Treasury, in the National Museum houses both the Bronze Age and Early Christian collections.
On the opposite side of the block, on Merrion Street/Merrion Square, you will find the National Gallery, and the Natural History Museum (known to Dubliner's of my father's generation, as 'The Dead Zoo’. This is a very refreshing look to the past, with absolutely no interpretation, and nothing, not even a postcard, to buy).
The National Gallery is halfway through a four-year renovation programme; in the meantime, the Millennium Wing, on Clare Street, has a ‘highlights of’ exhibition, and the Café and Gift Shop are also accessed via the Clare Street Entrance.
GETTING AROUND
Two operators offer Hop-On/Hop-Off tours:
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They both offer a 2-day ticket, and cost roughly the same price - check them out online before you make up your mind.
One can buy an integrated LEAP card in most newsagents, at train stations, and in the Dublin Bus Head Office at 42 O’Connell Street (on the west side of the street, just north of the Spire). This can be used on the LUAS, DART, some suburban mainline trains, and on Dublin Bus routes.
There is also a 3-day tourist pass, the Freedom Ticket, which provides good value. €28 will give you 72 hours transport, starting at the Airport; Airlink from the airport, the Hop-On-Hop –Off tourist bus and all local bus routes. Web: (URL HIDDEN)
•The DART, the local electric commuter train, runs north/south along the coast. The northside city centre station is Connolly, on Amiens Street, facing Talbot Street, but I usually suggest people use Tara Street, as Connolly is also a mainline station, and is very big, and a bit confusing. Tara is purely a commuter station, and is about the same distance. It is on George’s Quay, just south of the Custom House. The other south-side city centre station is Pearse, on Westland Row, at the south end of the Trinity campus.
•The LUAS Red Line runs east-west through the north side of the city, as far east as the docks, and serves both Connolly and Heuston mainline stations. The nearest stop to Mountjoy Square is Abbey, on Middle Abbey Street, opposite the Abbey Theatre. The LUAS Green Line serves the south suburbs; Ranelagh, Dundrum, Leopardstown Racecourse, and on out to Cherrywood, on the county boundary with Wicklow.
•Main cross-city bus routes run north-south through O’Connell Street. The No.7 terminates on Mountjoy Square North, and there is a ‘shopper’s fare’ of 50c, to Grafton Street- alight at Trinity. On the return journey it skirts the Trinity campus and comes along Pearse, to the east of the campus - catch it on Clare Street, at the Millennium wing of the National Gallery.
•DUBLIN BIKES are free to use for the first half hour, and have a stand on Mountjoy Square West, but one needs to go to the Princes Street stand (to the right hand side of the General Post Office (GPO)), to purchase a short term card. It costs €2, and is only available to credit card holders.
SHOPPING WITH A DIFFERENCE
Those interested in the local fashion, art and design scene should look out for the following addresses (in no particular order):
•Designist, South Great George's Street (stock chosen for good design)
•Irish Design Store, Drury Street
•Article, Powerscourt Townhouse Centre (housewares)
•Irish Designer Store, Top floor Powerscourt Townhouse Centre
•Cow's Lane Gallery, Temple Bar (artist’s collective)
•The Jam Factory, Nicholas Street (artist’s collective)
•Avoca, Suffolk Street
•Kilkenny Shop, Nassau Street
•Designyard, South Frederick Street (jewellery)
•Louise Kennedy, couturier, Merrion Square, and Tipperary Crystal
•Gallery Zozimus, Francis Street (art gallery and carefully chosen crafts)
•Graphic Studio Gallery, Temple Bar (artist-printmaker’s gallery)
•Malthouse Design Centre and Shop, Distillery Court, 537 North Circular Road, just around the corner from Mountjoy Square (cluster of design-led businesses, 10-5 M-F)
•Magee's of Donegal, Wicklow Street, and,
•Kevin and Howlin, Nassau Street have hand-woven tweeds covered.
•Dubarry's, College Green produce wonderful, country-style outerwear, including the most perfect alternative to sweaty, waterproof Wellington boots…
•Monaghan's, Hibernian Way, the House of Ireland on Nassau Street and the Sweater Shops on Wicklow Street and Nassau Street has the best selections of traditional knitwear. Monaghan's specialise in cashmere.
•Murphy and Sheehy, Castle Market, stock Irish tweed, Irish linen and a quirky selection of designer fabrics. Look out for their ‘Linen Union (linen/cotton blend) Glass Cloths- the best ever for polishing glassware, they make a super, useful, inexpensive and lightweight traditional gift!
•The Cloth Shop, St. William Street, for interesting designer fabric, including a good selection of Irish Linen, and Liberty of London
INDEPENDENT BOOKSHOPS and MUSIC STORES
Eason’s, O’Connell Street, is a Dublin institution for over 100 years. It encompasses a large stationery department, a branch of Tower Records on the top floor, academic books in the basement, a nice café and two floors of general books. It is a good place to browse books of Irish interest, and they have a really good Information Desk.
Chapters, Parnell Street West is my ‘local’. John Gannon is one of the best booksellers in the business, and his staff are hand-picked enthusiastic bibliophiles, one and all. Stock is a mixture of the latest releases, and carefully chosen remaindered books. Their ordering service is superlative, and they ALWAYS know exactly what one is talking about, even with just the vaguest, half-remembered clues from a newspaper review. Very strong on contemporary fiction, natural history, non-fiction and books of Irish interest. Extensive second-hand section upstairs.
The Secret Bookstore, Wicklow Street is another favourite. It’s tucked away down a passage, near the L’Occitane shop and often throws up gems among its large second-hand stock. An eclectic music store occupies the rear of the shop.
Cathach Rare Books, Duke Street, specializes in Irish first editions, and have an interesting selection of Irish maps and prints.
Stokes Books is another interesting antiquarian/secondhand shop, specializing in books of Irish interest. You’ll find it in Georges Street Arcade.
Claddagh Records, Cecelia Street, Temple Bar, is primarily a music publisher, but they have a retail outlet in Temple Bar, which is the oldest independent music shop in Dublin, and specializes in traditional Irish music, with some interesting World Music additions.
SHORT TRIPS OUTSIDE THE CITY BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT
NORTH:
Catch the No.46A bus, (heading north on O'Connell Street to the Phoenix Park- the largest enclosed urban park in the world, 1750 acres behind a seven-mile-long stone wall. Ashtown Castle Interpretive Centre, with its wonderful walled garden and café is a good place to orient oneself. From here, on Saturdays, it is possible to visit Aras an Uachtarian, the official residence of our President. One can also visit Farmliegh, the Official State Guesthouse, a former Guinness mansion. Among it’s attractions are an art gallery, café, occasional free concerts, and regular weekend Farmer’s Markets. The Park also houses the Dublin Zoo, (1827, the second-oldest Zoo in the world, after London’s Regent Park Zoo). Several herd of Fallow Deer roam at liberty.
Many sports are catered for; there is Polo ground, a cricket club, and lots soccer pitches. The Duke of Wellington is commemorated by a marvelous granite obelisk, which can be seen for miles. The area know as the Forty Acres affords superb views over the city, with the Royal Hospital and Guinness in the foreground, along the south side of the River Liffey. Phoenix Park can also be reached via the LUAS Red Line, direction Tallagh, heading west. Alight at 'Museum' and take a detour into the National Museum-Collins Barracks, which houses the Decorative Arts, post-1700, wonderful collections of silver, furniture, glass and other artifacts.
Just up the road, in Glasnevin there are three worthwhile attractions: Glasnevin Cemetary, was founded by Daniel O’Connell as one of his first initiatives, post Catholic Emancipation in 1829, to provide a dignified place for Catholic burial. The Glasnevin Musuem is new, and has superlative displays of Nationalist history. They also have a very good Geneology Department.
The National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, date from the end of 18thC. Though relatively small, they contain an internationally-aclaimed collection of plants and three iconic Glasshouses, by Turner of Dublin, which have all been restored in the recent past. There is a nice café in the Gardens, and entry is free. The Gravedigger’s Pub, over-looking a Green, is not to be missed. It got its name from the fact that there used to be a hatch in the rear wall, through which the gravediggers were served. They do nice simple pub food, and one can sit outside on sunny days. Walk back into town, and stop at either the The Botanic Bar at Harte’s Corner or the Brian Borus, typicl local bars. The Porter House, at Cross Guns Bridge, which is a micro-brewery, with nice food, is on the corner of the Royal Canal. Take a stroll east down the canal bank, and you will see swans, and moor-hens going about their business. At the next bridge, at Dorset Street look out for the lifesize bronze statue of Brendan Behan, a local author. From here is just a few minute’s stroll up Belvidere Place, with its charming stepped terraces of tall Georgian houses, to Mountjoy Square.
Another favorite is the Marino Casino, in Fairview/Clontarf, an early 18th century pleasure house, built to the design of Sir William Chambers, for Lord Charlemont, purely for entertaining, also just a few miles by bus, north of the city centre.
Catch the DART, the coastal commuter train, heading north, at Tara Street Station, on the South Liffey quays, at Butt Bridge, and take a short ride. You have the choice of Howth (a working fishing village) or Malahide.
Howth Demesne or Howth Head, behind the village will both afford walks with great views; the Harbour has a dozen restaurants along the quay- ranging from take-out fish and chips to the very upmarket. Book an early-evening window table at Aqua, and be astonished by the sunset over the coast, looking north-west. Another favourite of mine is Deep, midway along the quay (and do watch out for the local tame and greedy Harbour Seal, who begs shamelessly from the trawler men, who tie up alongside).
Malahide is a charming village, with some of the most expensive urban residential properties in the country. Good food and good shopping are to be had here. On the edge of the village you will find Malahide Castle and Demesne, open to the public, which includes a renowned private Arboretum, as Milo de Malahide, the last of his family, (who had occupied the castle continuously since Norman times, in the 10th-12th centuries) was a significant plants-man. The Castle contains the National Portrait Collection, as was as magnificent furniture and other contents. There is a smart new branch of the AVOCA Shop and Café in the Courtyard.
SOUTH:
South of the city you will find Rathfarnham Castle, and its Berkeley Costume and Toy Collection. Marley Park is a little further, just at the foot of the Dublin Mountains. It has wonderful parkland with easy walks, and a magnificent walled garden with a nice cafe. The No.16 bus, from O’Connell Street will leave you close by.
Powerscourt is at the edge of Enniskerry, its associated estate village, at the end of the No.44 bus route, which winds its way through the south side suburbs, into Wicklow, through the Scalp, a deep and picturesque glacial valley. The 19th century gardens are fabulous, and make great use of the 'borrowed landscape' beyond. The terrace and Nepture fountain are centred on the Sugarloaf mountain, which marks the beginning of the Wicklow Mountains. The Powerscourt Waterfall, part of the same estate, is a few miles further on, and there are beautiful, way-marked, woodland and moorland walks in the hills nearby. Do be mindful; these ‘mountains’ can be deceptive- while not high, they can be treacherous, as weather conditions can change in minutes. Stick to the way-marked paths, and do keep an eye on the weather.
Take the DART south to Bray and Greystones - via Dun Loughaire, Dalkey and Killiney - all interesting villages, with many cafes and restaurants.
Killiney Hill, with its eighteenth century obelisk at the summit, is a short climb that results in amazing views over Dublin Bay, and down into the Wicklow Mountains beyond. There is a nice pub in in the ‘village’- ‘The Druid’s Chair’.
Dalkey is a charming village with old-fashioned shops and lots of nice pubs, cafes and restaurants. The local Dalkey Castle Heritage Centre, is worth checking out, and in the summer run a theatre programme, and walking tours.
Bray Esplanade is a classic Victorian seaside amenity, sturdily built from local granite - the perfect place to enjoy an ice-cream. Campo di Fiori, either the Restaurant or the Café, both near the train station and the north end of the Promenade, are particular favourites of mine.
If one is feeling energetic, one could contemplate the Cliff Walk from Bray to Greystones - 4miles/6km along the rough cliff path. Lots of nice pubs for a pint of Guinness at the other end, The Hungry Pear is my favourite café, among many. The DART will take you straight back into the city. But.. make sure to do it in the morning, as by mid-day the path is in shade, and it can be windy and cold.
WEST:
Travelling into the rich plains of Kildare, by the No. 67 bus route, you will come to the historic village of Celbridge, just twelve miles from the city centre. Castletown House is Ireland's finest Palladian mansion, and was saved from destruction by Desmond Guinness, in the early 1960's. He purchased it from the construction company who had acquired it. They intended to demolish it, to make way for a vast suburban housing estate. The Irish Georgian Society, founded by Desmond Guinness, restored the house and furnished it with the help of many volunteers and sponsors, and opened it to the public, a heroic task for a small membership conservation society. Today, it is in State ownership, and it is the flagship Georgian heritage property of Ireland. It is beautifully presented, and the parklands are undergoing restoration.
A local bus, or the commuter train from Connolly Station in Amiens Street, will take one to Maynooth, a charming University town, with another magnificent Palladian mansion, Carton House, now operating as a very upmarket hotel and golf club.
Lots of companies offer day-long coach tours. Some involve very long days, i.e, Cliffs of Moher in Clare and the Giant’s Causeway on the Antrim coast. Two more local, and very worthwhile ones are either:
The Boyne Valley Tour (Newgrange Neolithic ( 5000 yr old World Heritage Site) / Mellifont Cistercian ruins- (12thC.)/ Monasterboice Early Christian (6th-8thC.)
The Wicklow-Glendalough Tour (Powerscourt / Wicklow Mountains National Park and Glendalough (Glen of the Two Lakes) a 6thC. Early Christian site, in beautiful wooded valley.
Details of both of these trips, and others, are available in the big black folder in the apartment.

Karin's place is just gorgeous! It is perfectly clean and very well equipped. The bed was comfy and had high-quality linen. You can easily reach the city centre on foot. We can recommend "Kingfisher" for breakfast (just a 5 min walk from the studio; thanks Karin for the great tip!) and if you like burgers, "Bunsen" is really the place to go! I recommend bringing ear plugs with you as the windows don't fully insulate the studio from the traffic noise (plus there's an mechanic timer for water heating near the bathroom that's constantly ticking). It really depends on how noise-sensitive you are, my boyfriend didn't bother at all but I definitely needed ear plugs ;) All in all we can highly recommend the studio and would definitely come back!

I stayed at Karin's place while in Dublin for a conference. I truly enjoyed and appreciated this house and I was lucky to sneak a peak at some of the other rooms! I was able to walk everywhere I wanted including the convention center. My time for sight seeing was a bit limited, I did hit Karin's recommendations including Marsh's library. I was at the Guinness storehouse for an event - it warrants a trip during the day. I really enjoyed The Celt for traditional music. I picked up a local bands CD at Murrays. Karin also sent me to one of her favorite antique dealers where I found some unique prices. I was always very comfortable and the kitchen is useful with everything you need. Probably best thing was I would come back in the evening before venturing out and throw one of the many movies set in Ireland. Definitely watch Michael Collins. I am excited for Ireland as it gets ready to celebrate this centennial. If I could move to Ireland I would! Try to get out to the countryside if you can. One word of caution - this is a place for responsible people.

Tiffany2015-11-16T00:00:00Z

The studio is beautiful and well equipped. The combination of antique furniture and state-of-the-art bathroom and kitchen is perfect. Also, Karin is a great host - many thanks for the warm welcome and the superb tips for sightseeing/restaurants/etc.!

Stefan2015-08-19T00:00:00Z

We arrived after a long flight and were very happy to find this clean, comfortable and quite unique accommodation awaiting us! A very special studio with all the amenities needed for a home away from home. Comfortable bed, nice linens, good shower and we were off on a short walk to city center. Kitchen was stocked with fresh eggs, milk, coffee, tea, juice so we could make breakfast. A great value in a special house with a gracious hostess who prides herself on attention to detail and the history of the house and neighborhood. We will definitely be back!

Renee2015-10-10T00:00:00Z

Karin was a great host. Very nice to chat with and provided great information. The place was clean and fresh. I will stay again if back in Dublin

Klaudia and her whole family were so nice and helpful. We did have to turn them into impromptu nurses but they were up for the job and helped any way they could. The upstairs room was nice and clean, and even have Dublin maps and help you get around to what you want to see. Thanks!

Jana2017-04-30T00:00:00Z

Klaudia's place is great! The room is upstairs with a private bathroom so it's really like having your own little apartment. It's very clean and very well decorated. The house is close to public transit so it's easy to get to and from the city center. We really enjoyed our stay here!

Meredith2017-07-25T00:00:00Z

Очень хорошие и гостеприимные хозяева с милой собакой

Katharina2016-11-06T00:00:00Z

The tasteful and functional rooms, beautiful bathroom are are at a very nice, uncomplicated family including dog in a quiet residential area. The ride into the city is straightforward (3- day ticket 27 €), takes approximately 25 minutes. A local and grocery store are within walking distance. A house to feel good.

Ute2017-03-05T00:00:00Z

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It is a spacious attic with outstanding sunset and sunrise view. Less than 10 minutes walking distance from Dart station and bus and 30 minutes walking from the coast and Bull Island .
There is a choice of local shops and a Centra very close by

Raheny village is a nice litlle village that offer a wide range of shop and restaurant. The village is lively and very friendly. The major feature is the nearly 5 km beach known as Dollymount Strand, on the nature reserve of North Bull Island. There are also two parks: North Bull Island itself and Saint Anne's Park (formerly the home of the Guinness family of brewing and later banking fame), as well as Edenmore Park (with a pitch and putt course and playing fields)
There is excellent walking and cycling on the sea front (one can walk or bike from Howth to Dun Laoghaire, on North Bull Island, in St. Anne's Park and around the leafy streets.

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Quiet leafy suburb. Cosy double room in a residential area 20 minutes from the city centre. Two DART stations close by. Also close to buses. Local attractions include Howth, Malahide and Saint Annes Park. Free wifi.

A short walk to Bayside Dart Station (8 mins) also Howth Junction (14 mins). 20 min journey to city Centre. 400m to the coastal promenade and for buses to the city centre. Howth is a small fishing village just two stops away on the DART where you will find lots of restaurants, coffee shops, bars and a local market (weekends only). There are a number of public walks around the Head Of Howth with stunning views across Dublin Bay.

Tony and Ann are wonderful kind hosts! They let me stay as an extra person even though they only expected two people. The rooms were spotless and really comfy. Everything was just perfect, I can definitely recommend staying with them!

Martina2017-08-28T00:00:00Z

Tony's place is well situated in a quiet suburb but still very close to the DART that takes you straight into the city centre quickly. (Just don't make the mistake I did and check the train timings, they only come every half hour and missed one by 2 minutes...) It's very comfortable and spotlessly clean. Highly recommended!

Kyle2017-09-01T00:00:00Z

Tony and Ann were lovely. Ann was very helpful with suggestions for seeking out what we were interested in and was even so kind as to drop us off at the train station. It's a cozy space but as such the house is a bit creaky and audible. Regardless I think it's a great space for enjoying some time in Dublin!

I will say, living at Shumei's home it is has been one of the best stay in my airbnb experience. She is a friendly, helpful and gentile lady. She offered to me a very nice room, located inside a quiet home and district (nothing noise). It is located 25-30 minutes from central Dublin. Home and bathroom, in general they were very cleansed. Price is quite nice! I really recommend Shumei's home.

geovanny2017-05-22T00:00:00Z

舒美是个很棒的主持人:她非常有帮助和善良。非常感谢。

Christoph2017-06-12T00:00:00Z

I had a great time at Shumei's House ! The family was really nice. Thank you :)

Inès2017-08-28T00:00:00Z

Good value for money

michael2017-04-11T00:00:00Z

好的亚洲女士提供了一个很好的房间。一切都会推荐给任何人。

Balint2017-05-27T00:00:00Z

Bonito lugar con una familia faboulus

julien2017-02-07T00:00:00Z

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Welcome!
We offer a relaxed atmosphere in a comfortable double bedroom, free parking & wifi.
Ideal for those looking to be close to the airport (10-15 minute drive) or only 25 minutes to city centre by bus.

Only 15 minutes drive from the airport
The apartment is 5 minutes walk to public transport (bus) which takes about 25 minutes to city centre
We are also a short walk away from train station

This is a great place to stay if your looking for something quiet and away from the city and its close to the airport. It's very clean and comfortable..Victoria and Barry are very friendly and helpful, we had some good conversations about music and life in Ireland.

Carmen2017-05-31T00:00:00Z

Victoria was so helpful as soon as we arrived. The location is ideal if you don't want to be in the city. Close to airport or if like us travelling from the West coast it's easy to get to. The room was perfect, clean and comfortable. We will definitely be staying here again. Great value from money.

Vicky & Barry are lovely hosts who made us feel at home. The room was cozy, perfect for our overnight stay in Dublin after a flight with a late arrival time. Complimentary breakfast & coffee was a lovely touch too.

Vida2017-06-21T00:00:00Z

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This is twin room with new comfortable bunk beds, cosy duvets and a new bathroom. The room has lots of closet space and a desk. We have excellent quality WIFI and you are welcome to watch TV in our front sitting room which has full cable access.
We are very is close to Dublin Airport (15 mins by car), Bus links to City Centre (30 mins), Close to Howth Village and Malahide Village and Clare Hall Shopping Centre. You’ll love the people, the neighbourhood and the proximity to all areas of Dublin.

This is a warm newly built ground floor room. Very private with bunk bed, desk and newly fitted wardrobe. There is an electric shower in your private ensuite bathroom.

Andreas place is just perfect. Quick to get to public transport, a very friendly family and always there to help you. We really enjoyed our stay and would definitely come back!

Michael2017-09-02T00:00:00Z

Great and helpful hosts and very nice room! A cute dog and a very clean ensuite bathroom. The breakfast was good, too! The bus stop is 10 Minutes walking distance away and you get into the city for roughly 3€ per way in 30-45 minutes, depending on the day. The tipp to go to Howth was great, only 15 Minutes by car and a great cliff walk! I can totally recommend this AirBnB, especially because of the short (17 Mins) drive to the airport by car.

Hannah2017-08-15T00:00:00Z

Great location to get back to airport! Very clean and homey my sister and I enjoyed our stay and the hosts were very nice.

Jessica2017-06-13T00:00:00Z

Andrea and Shane with all the familly and the dog are really great hosts! Cosy, modern, clean and well organized. It was such a warm welcome for the stay in Dublin and Ireland. Thank you so much for all your extra-help and informations you gave us. No doubt we would come again. All the best! Martina

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Sypialnie

Cosy one apartment at the rear of hosts property, equipped with electric shower, washing machine, kettle, fridge and freezer, microwave, tv with virgin media TV box with over 100 channels, clothes horse to dry clothes, cooker with oven. Double bed in bedroom with lots storage space for clothes. Bathroom has electric shower and storage for cosmetics. We have a travel cot which can be set up upon request and a fold up bed set up upon request

Our little one bed apartment is cosy and great for people that want a home away from home with all the essentials

Our neighbourhood is quiet and is just a 10 min walk to the local shopping centre with all your food and clothing needs with also a chemist, supermarket, pub, hairdressers, barbers sports shop, butchers, book store, toy shop, cafe, Mc Donald's, petrol station and many other stores.

Clean & close to DART!

Sorcha2017-08-27T00:00:00Z

Spent first two nights in Ireland here with a friend. Denis was very accommodating of our early flight into Dublin and allowed us to check-in very early in the morning. This helped us out so much as we would not have had anywhere else to go. The apartment was well kept and had breakfast available. Would highly recommend to other travelers. This place was perfect!

Lindsay2017-08-21T00:00:00Z

Denis' place was in the perfect location for our exploring! He was super helpful, giving us directions to places in the area, I would love to go back!

Liz2017-08-29T00:00:00Z

Denis is a great host! He was very helpful and kind. The place was fully equiped and very tidy. We would definitely come back!

Valeria2017-08-11T00:00:00Z

This was our first try with airbnb and it was a great experience. Very nice place, clean and private.

Sandra2017-09-05T00:00:00Z

Denis was a nice and accommodating host! We enjoyed our stay and the location being about a 3 minute walk to Howth Junction (train station). The apartment had just what we needed :)

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Cosy one bedroom apartment located just 10 mins from Dublin airport and 10 minutes from seaside town malahide, coffee shops and shopping centre in the area with yoga classes just 1 minutes walk from the apartment. The apartment is cosy and located in a quiet area.

The host canceled this reservation 2 days before arrival. This is an automated posting.

Conor2017-08-17T00:00:00Z

Nice, quiet place to stay. Quick taxi or bus ride to the city center. Michelle was very kind and accommodating.

Emily2017-08-27T00:00:00Z

House was clean and the host was very generous and accommodating, despite my own late arrival time and limited ability to communicate. Would recommend!

Gerriet2017-08-13T00:00:00Z

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Apartament

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2

Sypialnie

We are a young family with lots of experience hosting students and visitors from overseas. We are happy to help and will always aim to make you feel comfortable and welcome!
We supply a welcome pack on arrival ( Tea/Coffee - bread/milk - continental breakfast , for self service in your room) Your room contains a fridge/microwave/kettle/toaster and crockery.
Very close to Airport, City Centre and Beaumount Hospital.
We have a small dog Tyson, who is our friendly house dog.

Great safe location (possibly the safest area in Dublin) Situated on the coast over looking Dublin bay between Raheny village and Sutton village, this area couldn't be any more safe or convenient. Delicious Italian restaurant "Il Fornaio" and convenience stores just a 10 minute walk from your door. Also just a 30 minute stroll along the promenade to Bull Island beach.

Very good host, the flat is clean and nice, the view is beautiful

中2017-08-06T00:00:00Z

Very clean and new apartment. House has been split but very private. Bus stop is just outside the house. Would recommend to small family or couples

This was my first airbnb experience and it was quite pleasant for the following reasons. The host was extremely helpful and friendly, all arrangements went according to plan. The host responded almost immediately to every message I sent prior to arrival. For my first experience as a solo traveler, I was made to feel safe and welcome. They were the perfect host from beginning to end. In terms of cleanliness and comfort, I could not fault the place one bit. The place smells really nice. Bedroom: really comfortable bed, and heater kept the room nice and toasty at night. Bathroom: very clean, hot water in the shower came on almost instantly. Kitchen area: user-friendly, all the basics provided. Transportation: bus stop to the city less than 5 minutes away. Location: quiet neighborhood, very pleasant, scenic. I highly recommend staying here.

Suhaila2017-07-29T00:00:00Z

Very clean, modern space. Great view from the front room onto the Dublin Harbour. Buses are very accessible, right across the street but give yourself time to get to the downtown core of Dublin if that's where you're headed. Great communication with Serena and her mother-in-law.

Danielle2017-09-09T00:00:00Z

It's a great home. Very clean and very comfortable. Nice place with a nice view. I'm in love with this place.

Sajad2017-08-27T00:00:00Z

very clean and tidy central location, close to public transport. Serena was quick to respond and kind and fair. wonderful to see the sea everyday from the window,

Alana2017-08-22T00:00:00Z

A cute place to stay by the shore, right by howth a great place to explore in ireland!! Best place I have stayed at on my travels.

Nice location not far from airport and very close to public transportation. Unfortunately, the shared bathroom wasn't clean and tidy. The twin beds also didnt have a top sheet and the mattress springs were very uncomfortable. The host was nice but I wouldn't stay here again.

Great experience with Dessy and Clare! Clare was very kind and super helpful with everything we wanted to do and see. Location is close enough to City Centre and there's a small shopping centre very close to the home where people can get some basic amenities they might have forgotten or get their phones hooked with a SIM card. Highly recommended ☺️